8152 Benefits of Inpatient Diabetes Management by a Specialized Diabetes Team

Abstract

Abstract Disclosure: M. Bojarian: None. A. Ohri: None. C. Buettner: None. Background: Inpatient dysglycemia is associated with poor clinical outcomes such as prolonged length of stay (LOS), increased risk of ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality. The benefits of managing diabetic patients in the hospital with a dedicated diabetes team, as opposed to standard care on episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, reduction in LOS, and 30-day readmission rates, remain uncertain. A potential confounder is the likelihood that patients receiving a diabetes consult may be sicker than those without a consult. Given the growing evidence supporting the role of specialized diabetes teams in improving care for diabetes patients, we sought to examine these benefits at our hospital. We plan to address confounding variables through propensity score matching. Objective: To assess whether diabetes patients experience reduced LOS, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and 30-day readmission rates when managed by a specialized diabetes team compared to inpatients managed by a hospitalist team. Material and Methods: This quality improvement study compared LOS, hypoglycemia (glucose <70 mg/dL), hyperglycemia (glucose >180 mg/dL), and 30-day readmission rates in diabetes patients managed by a specialized diabetes team versus a hospitalist team at our hospital between June 2022 and December 2022. Results: 5676 patients with diabetes were admitted between June and December 2022 at our hospital, and a specialized diabetes team managed 417 patients (7.34%). In a preliminary analysis in which no propensity matching was performed yet, the 30-day readmission rate was significantly lower (87,16.6%) in patients who received a diabetes consult compared to patients who did not receive a diabetes consult (320,17.9%). The rate of hypoglycemia was higher (24.4%) in the specialized diabetes consult group than in the non-diabetes consults group (19.9%). Additionally, LOS was longer in patients with a specialized diabetes consult (7.1 vs. 3.1 days), and hyperglycemia (glucose >180 mg/dL) was more prevalent in the specialized diabetes consult group (78.9%) compared to the non-diabetes consult group (39.2%). Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis, patients managed by a specialized diabetes team showed lower readmission rates despite longer hospitalization and increased dysglycemic episodes. This could be attributed to sicker patients receiving diabetes consults, influencing dysglycemia rates. To account for such confounders, ongoing propensity score matching aims to provide a clearer understanding. Reduced readmission rates suggest improved care transitions, potentially resulting in significant cost savings for the healthcare system. Presentation: 6/1/2024