Mean age of the patients was 70.0 (SD 11.4) years and 53.0% were women. Average time since T2D diagnosis was 9.8 (SD 6.3) years. An estimated increase of 1.86 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.33-3.39) mmol/mol in average HbA1c levels was detected at the time of the policy change. In subgroup analyses, strongest effects were detected among patients living in less highly educated areas (2.38 mmol/mol, 95% CI 0.75-4.02) and patients with T2D-coexisting diseases only in addition to T2D (2.35 mmol/mol, 95% CI 0.70-4.00). Consumption of diabetes medications decreased by 5.2% while number of purchases increased by 3.1% and number of users decreased by 4.6% between 2016 and 2017. Conclusions: Increase of copayment level increased the average HbA1c level among T2D patients from North Karelia region, Finland. This may be explained by the decreased consumption of diabetes medications between 2016 and 2017. Special attention should be allocated to glycaemic control of patients from the lowest income groups and with T2D-coexisting diseases.
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