Time-to-onset of treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in South African diabetes mellitus patients: A survival analysis using medicine claims data.

Within an average of 6 years after an index period of 1 year free of disease, diabetics may commence treatment for hyperlipidaemia, hypertension or both. With all significant data appropriately captured, medicine claims data can be effectively used in survival analysis to determine time-to-onset of treatment for hyperlipidaemia and hypertension among diabetics.