399-P: Deintensification of Diabetes Treatment in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing, especially in the elderly population. Many of these patients have co-morbidities like renal insufficiency, cognitive impairment and lack of social support, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. Moreover, the benefits of tight glycemic control have not been established in the elderly. Therefore, the American Diabetes Association recommends relaxed glycemic goals (HbA1c ∼8%) in the elderly population. De-intensification of diabetes treatment is recommended to prevent potential harm. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the rate of de-intensification of antidiabetic treatment in patients aged ≥75 years with HbA1c ≤7% at the time of their clinic visits. All patients with ≥2 clinic visits over 1-year period at a major academic diabetes center were included. Out of 1,417 unique patients treated during 2017, 174 were ≥75 years old on the day of their last clinic visit. Out of these, 80 patients had an HbA1c ≤7%. Medical records of these 80 patients were manually reviewed for comorbidities, hypoglycemic episodes and drug therapy. A mention of de-intensification of antidiabetic treatment was found in physicians’ notes in only 12 cases. After excluding those with type 1 diabetes, inadequate documentation or controlled on medications without hypoglycemia potential, we found 36 patients treated with a sulfonylurea drug or insulin. Only 10 (27%) patients were advised to reduce the dose of sulfonylurea drug or insulin after an HbA1c <7% was noted. Out of patients receiving a sulfonylurea drug or insulin, 17 had at least one episode of hypoglycemia before the visit. Even among patients with documented hypoglycemia, only 7 (41%) were advised to de-intensify therapy. Our study suggests that de-intensification of antidiabetic medications is infrequent despite the potential harm of hypoglycemia in elderly patients with T2DM. Strategies need to be developed to prevent overtreatment of diabetes in the elderly patients. Disclosure D.V. Pirela: None. R. Garg: None.