Hypoglycemic episodes are associated with an increased risk of incident frailty among new onset diabetic patients

Abstract

AimsPatients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at risk for developing frailty due to the complex interplay between different cardiometabolic factors. We examined whether hypoglycemia could independently increase frailty risk besides these factors. MethodsFrom the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetic Patients, 210,254 patients with new onset DM between 2004 and 2011 were identified, among whom 2119 non-frail patients had at least 1 hypoglycemic episode within 3 years of DM diagnosis. They were propensity score-matched to 8432 non-frail ones without hypoglycemia throughout the study period. Both groups were followed up longitudinally for incident physical frailty according to a modified FRAIL scale (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Loss of weight). We analyzed the risk of frailty (primary) and mortality (secondary outcome) introduced by hypoglycemia, adjusted for known risk factors of frailty. ResultsThe mean age of patients (46.2% male) was 65.9 ± 14 years; diabetic patients with hypoglycemia had significantly higher comorbidity burden than those without. After 2.68 years, 172 (1.6%) patients with hypoglycemia developed incident frailty, representing a 60% higher risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.599, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.42). After adjusting for other risk factors, those with hypoglycemia had a significantly higher risk of frailty than those without (HR 1.443, 95% CI 1.01–2.05). Additionally, the mortality of those with hypoglycemia was 2-fold higher than those without, and the risk persisted despite confounder adjustment (HR 1.462, 95% CI 1.3–1.65). ConclusionIn this population-based cohort, hypoglycemic episodes among diabetic patients increased the risk of incident frailty and mortality.