Table 2 Process indicators employed in the literature to assess clinical inertia

Percentage of therapy intensification in patients with HBA1c > 8% (addition of an oral hypoglycemic agent or dosage increase for an existing therapy or initiation of insulin treatment)

[33, 83]

Percentage of therapy intensification in patients with HBA1c > 7%

[84]

Percentage of initiation of insulin treatment in patients with HBa1c > 9%

[42]

Average time elapsed between type 2 diabetes diagnosis and initiation of insulin treatment in patients with non-target HBa1c

[42]

Percentage of patients with HBa1c > 7% undergoing basal insulin treatment for 180 days and subjected to the intensification of insulin therapy

[43]

Difference between the percentage of outpatient visits in which sBP was higher than the target minus the percentage of outpatient visits in which a modification of anti-hypertensive treatment was implemented, either type or dose of treatment, divided by the number of eligible visits. The resulting value is multiplied by the average difference between sBP as measured in all visits and the target value of sBP

[85]

Percentage of patients with non-target levels of LDL cholesterol and treated with statins, divided by the total number of eligible patients

[86]

Time (days) elapsed before a therapeutic intervention subsequent to sub-optimal lab test results

[87]

Percentage of healthcare professionals who prescribe the initiation of insulin therapy to patients with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c at the recommended threshold of 7–7.9%

[42]

Number of patients without therapy intensification, divided by the total number of patients with HbA1c ≥ 7%, multiplied by 100

[52]

Time spent with poor glycemic control (HbA1c 7%, > 7,5%, > 8%) in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with DPP-4i/SGLT-2i until the intensification of treatment with insulin/GLP-1RA

[88]

Percentage of patients lacking therapy intensification within 180 days from metformin failure

[89]