Hypoglycemia-related Hospitalizations Research Articles

Glucagon prescribing and prevention of hospitalization for hypoglycemia in a large health system

AimsTo examine glucagon prescribing trends among patients at high risk of severe hypoglycemia and assess if a glucagon prescription is associated with lower rates of severe hypoglycemia requiring hospital care. MethodsRetrospective analysis of electronic health records from a large integrated healthcare system between May 2019 and August 2021. We included adults (≥18 years) with type 1 diabetes or with type 2 diabetes treated with short-acting insulin and/or recent history of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visit or hospitalization. We calculated rates of glucagon prescribing overall and by patient characteristics. We then matched 1:1 those who were and were not prescribed glucagon and assessed subsequent hypoglycemia-related hospitalization. ResultsOf 9,200 high risk adults, 2063 (22.4%) were prescribed glucagon. Among patients more likely to be prescribed glucagon were those younger, female, White, living in urban areas, with prior severe hypoglycemia, and with a recent endocrinology specialist visit. In the matched cohort (N = 1707 per arm), 62 prescribed glucagon and 33 not prescribed glucagon were hospitalized for hypoglycemia (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.71, 95% CI 1.10–2.66; P = 0.018). ConclusionGlucagon prescribing was infrequent with significant racial and rural disparities. Patients with glucagon prescriptions did not have lower rates of hospitalization for hypoglycemia.

Risk of non-hypoglycemic agents for hypoglycemia-related hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes: a large-scale medical receipt database analysis

IntroductionHypoglycemia is listed as an adverse effect in the package inserts of not only hypoglycemic agents but also many other drugs. We aimed to clarify real-world factors related to an...

New Options to Simplify the Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia in Long-Term Care

New Options to Simplify the Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia in Long-Term Care

Association between hemoglobin A1c variability and hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in veterans with diabetes mellitus

IntroductionTo study the impact of hemoglobin A1c (A1c) variability on the risk of hypoglycemia-related hospitalization (HRH) in veterans with diabetes mellitus.Research design and methods342 059 veterans with diabetes aged 65...

Abstract 16062: Hypoglycemia and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ascvd) in Patients With Diabetes

Introduction: Studies evaluating the relationship of severe hypoglycemia (SH) with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events are limited by size, confounding and inconsistent outcome definitions. The aim of this study was to assess the association of SH, as defined by hypoglycemia-related hospital utilization, with risk of ASCVD. Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study of adults with diabetes with or without established ASCVD (as of 1/1/2014). All subjects were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care delivery system. Baseline was determined by the date of the first hypoglycemia-related utilization (primary diagnosis of hypoglycemia in the emergency department or principal diagnosis in the hospital) during 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013. Baseline for those without SH, was a randomly assigned date in 2013. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were specified to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for SH in adjusted models of time to incident ASCVD events. This outcome was defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or coronary heart disease death through 12/31/2017. Results: Among 233,696 eligible individuals, mean age was 63.6 years, 47.6% were women, and mean follow-up was 3.8 years. There were 2,179 episodes of SH. Age-sex-race adjusted risk of ASCVD among those with SH versus those without was HR 2.59 (95% CI 2.3-2.9). When additionally adjusted for prior ASCVD, the HR was still more than double, HR 2.32 (95% CI 2.1-2.6). In a fully saturated model with additional adjustments for diabetes type, diabetes duration, HbA1c, GFR, Charlson score, insulin use, sulfonylureas, and quartiles of neighborhood deprivation, SH was associated with a 30% increased risk (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.16-1.5). The substantial attenuation in risk after more comprehensive adjustment suggests that patients at higher risk of SH are likely at higher risk of ASCVD. Conclusions: In a large, diverse and contemporary cohort of patients with diabetes, SH as defined by hypoglycemia-related hospital utilization is associated with greater risk of ASCVD. Increased awareness in recognizing this risk and vigilance in care for this higher risk population is warranted.

Real-world risk of hypoglycemia-related hospitalization in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes using SGLT2 inhibitors: a nationwide cohort study

IntroductionSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are believed to lower glucose levels and inhibit cardiovascular events related to type 2 diabetes (T2D). To maximize their benefits, the risk of resultant hypoglycemia...

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Outpatient Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Study

ABSTRACT Background Chronic kidney disease and hypoglycemia are common complications in individuals with diabetes. Currently, the association of renal function with hypoglycemic complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is inconclusive. This study aims to assess the associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and cumulative incidence of hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia among T2DM patients in Thailand using a nationwide patient sample. Methods We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study based on the DM/HT study of the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools. This study assessed adult T2DM patients from 831 public hospitals in Thailand in the year 2012–2013. eGFR was categorized into ≥90, 60–89, 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2. The associations between eGFR and hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia were assessed using multivariate logistic regression and Poisson regression. Results A total of 25,056 T2DM patients with available eGFR were included in the analysis. The mean age was 60.9 ± 10.5 years. The cumulative incidence of hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was 3.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia, mild hypoglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia was 2.99 (2.59–3.43), 2.47 (2.11–2.88), and 0.52 (0.36–0.72) per 100 patient-years, respectively. Patients with eGFR of 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 were significantly associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia when compared to patients with eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Conclusion Reduced eGFR was independently associated with increased hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and risk of outpatient hypoglycemia. Increasing awareness of the heightened risk of hypoglycemia with declining renal function may prompt changes to diabetic management for at-risk individuals.

396-P: Investigating the Risk of Severe Hypoglycemia in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

In Japan, 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 and personalized blood sugar goals, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. This study was conducted to examine the associations of patients characteristics such as HbA1c level, BMI and use of glucose level-lowering medication with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations. This study was cross sectional study conducted over 6 years January 2014 and March 2019. We recruited 9,798 patients with elderly patients over 65 years with T2DM. To assess the odds ratio (OR) of hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, we constructed a logistic regression analysis, having adjusting for age, gender, BMI, eGFR, baseline HbA1c levels, use of hypoglycemic agents. Hypoglycemia was documented in 124 (1.27%) patients. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age≧75years and gender were not significantly. DPP-4I (OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.28-0.96) showed lower odds ratio. BMI≦25kg/m2 (OR: 2.94, 95%CI: 1.26-6.86), baseline HbA1c&amp;lt;6.0% (OR: 4.43, 95%CI: 2.25-8.73), eGFR 15-≦30 mL/min(OR: 2.54, 95%CI: 1.05-6.10), &amp;lt;15mL/min(OR: 3.01, 95%CI: 1.26-7.16), Insulin (OR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.22-3.43) showed higher odds ratio. In this study of elderly patients with T2DM, the risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia appeared to be highest among patients with too low Hba1c and BMI, decreased renal function, and sulfonylurea and/or insulin use. On the other hand, DPP-4I have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia. By leveraging the results of this study, at-risk elderly patients can benefit from individualized treatment plans to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. Disclosure T. Horii: None. K. Atsuda: None.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose and Hypoglycemia-Related Hospitalization in a Population-Based Cohort of Canadian Patients With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes

ObjectivesThe aim of this work was to determine whether: 1) blood glucose test strip use in the population is associated with hypoglycemia hospitalization rates, and 2) blood glucose test strip use among individuals is associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia hospitalization. MethodsAdministrative databases from Saskatchewan, Canada, were used to ascertain population-level hypoglycemia hospitalizations and test strip utilization over the period from 1996 to 2014. For objective 1, a generalized linear model with generalized estimating equations was fit to provincial data stratified by age group, sex and year. For objective 2, a nested case-control study was conducted for a cohort of insulin users with diagnosed diabetes. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to test the association of test strip use with hospitalization, after adjusting for clinical and demographic factors and health services use. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) are reported. ResultsA total of 5,166 hospitalizations for hypoglycemia were identified in the observation period. Annual glucose test strip use increased by over 350%; however, no association was found with provincial hypoglycemia hospitalization rate during the same period, even after controlling for all-cause hospitalizations and population demographics. In the case-control analysis, test strip use was not associated with hospitalization for hypoglycemia among insulin users (n=10,617; adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.31). A sensitivity analysis in an independent cohort of noninsulin users produced a similar finding (n=47,501; adjusted OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.94). ConclusionOur findings add to the body of evidence against a protective effect of blood glucose test strip use for serious hypoglycemia.

Iatrogenic hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions identified through databases: economic burden and causes.

Background Hypoglycemia is an acute and frequent complication of diabetes. Objectives To assess the number of hospital admissions due to iatrogenic hypoglycemia in Alsace (France) over a year, to estimate the associated economic burden and to identify causes. Method A retrospective analysis was performed using data extracted from hospital databases. Costs were calculated from French official tariffs. Setting 31 public and private hospitals. A review of the medical records of patients with iatrogenic hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions was performed at the University Hospital of Strasbourg. Main outcome measures Hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions: number, costs and causes. Results Out of 42,381 hospitalizations, 147 iatrogenic hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions (0.4%) were identified; 41 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 106 with type 2. The total cost associated to the 147 events was € 407,441. The median cost per patient was € 1,224.6 [563.0-2,505.7 (interquartile range)] for type 1 diabetes mellitus and € 3,670.9 [2,505.7-3,670.9] for type 2. Forty-six patients over the 147 were coming from the University Hospital of Strasbourg. In this hospital, the most common origin of the hypoglycemia was missed meals (n = 7), the second was a mismatch between antidiabetic medicines and carbohydrate intake (n = 6), the third was an incorrect use of antidiabetic medicines (n = 5). Conclusions 147 hospitalizations due to iatrogenic hypoglycemia were identified with an estimated global cost of € 407,441. Optimizing therapy with low-risk hypoglycemic medicines, improving access to continuous glucose monitoring systems and offering adequate education, could help address the causes of hypoglycemia.

Temporal Trends of Severe Hypoglycemia and Subsequent Mortality in Patients with Advanced Diabetic Kidney Diseases Transitioning to Dialysis.

Background: Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are at higher risk of hypoglycemia than diabetic patients without DKD. We aimed to investigate the temporal trends of severe hypoglycemia in advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis and examine risk factors associated with severe hypoglycemia. We also investigated the association of severe hypoglycemia episodes with one-year mortality after initiation of dialysis in patients with advanced DKD. Methods: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 46,779 advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis (Peritoneal dialysis 4216, hemodialysis 42,563) between 1997 and 2011 were enrolled. We calculated the rates of severe hypoglycemia from 5 years before dialysis until 10 years after dialysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the risk factors of post end stage renal disease (ESRD) one-year hypoglycemia and post ESRD one-year mortality in advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis. Results: We found that 11.5% of advanced DKD patients had at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia the year leading up to dialysis initiation. Multivariate analysis revealed hemodialysis compared with peritoneal dialysis, stroke, use of sulfonylurea, glinide, and insulin were associated with higher risk of severe hypoglycemia one year after transitioning to dialysis. Increased frequency of severe hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was associated with incrementally higher mortality risk one year after transitioning to dialysis (Pre-ESRD hypoglycemia: Hazard ratios: 1.28 (1.18–1.38, p < 0.001), 1.64 (1.49–1.81, p < 0.001) for one, two hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, respectively; post-ESRD hypoglycemia: HRs of 1.56 (1.40–1.73, p < 0.001), 1.72 (1.39–2.12, p < 0.001) for one, two hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, respectively (reference group: no hypoglycemia related hospitalization)). Conclusions: Among advanced DKD patients, we observed a progressive elevated risk of hypoglycemia during the critical dialysis transition period. Increased frequency of severe hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was associated with higher mortality risk one year after transitioning to dialysis. Further study of glycemic management strategies which prevent hypoglycemia during the critical transition period are warranted.

Abstract P084: Neighborhood Deprivation is Associated With Diabetes Complications: Results From the UCSF Population Health Data Initiative

Introduction: Although neighborhood-level factors influence diabetes and diabetes complications, these determinants are often ignored in clinical practice. The widespread use of electronic medical records (EMR) represents a unique opportunity to incorporate these factors into clinical decision making through geocoding of a patient’s residential address. However, despite increasing interest, few examples exist of how to leverage geospatial data within a clinical care system to inform patient care. The objective of this study is to examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and diabetes complications using geocoded address and clinical data extracted from patients’ EMR. Methods: Using retrospective EMR data from UCSF Health (01/01/2015-06/30/2018), we identified a cohort of patients with diabetes using a combination of labs, diagnosis codes and medications (n=9,876). Patients’ residential addresses were extracted from EMR, geocoded, and assigned to census block/track. Area deprivation index (ADI) was calculated for each census block/track, categorized as high neighborhood-level deprivation (ADI ≥80 th percentile) or not (ADI &lt;80 th percentile), and linked to patient-level data. ADI includes 17 measures of education, employment, housing-quality, and poverty and incorporates information from the Census and American Community Survey. We used logistic regression models to examine the association between ADI and the following diabetes-related outcomes: poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥9%), severe hypoglycemia (ICD-9/10 codes for hypoglycemia-related ED visit or hospitalization), and retinopathy (ICD-9/10 codes). Models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance coverage. Hypoglycemia and retinopathy models were additionally adjusted for last available HbA1c measure. Results: In fully-adjusted models, high neighborhood-level deprivation was associated with increased risk of poor glycemic control (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.40) and severe hypoglycemia (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.76). Conversely, high neighborhood-level deprivation was associated with decreased risk of retinopathy (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.96). Conclusions: Using EMR data, after controlling for several patient-level factors, neighborhood-level deprivation was associated with increased risk of poor glycemic control and severe hypoglycemia and decreased risk retinopathy. Understanding the patient’s broader social context could help inform risk stratification and tailoring of diabetes management. Future analyses will more fully characterize patients’ clinical and utilization-related characteristics and will include additional diabetes complications such as nephropathy, neuropathy and chronic kidney disease. This study represents an example of how neighborhood-level data obtained through patient’s EMR could be used to inform clinical practice.

Hypoglycemia-Related Hospitalizations and Mortality Among Patients With Diabetes Transitioning to Dialysis

Diabetic patients with declining kidney function are at heightened risk for hypoglycemia. We sought to determine whether hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in the interval before dialysis therapy initiation are associated with post-end-stage renal disease (ESRD) mortality among incident patients with ESRD with diabetes. Observational cohort study. US veterans from the national Veterans Affairs database with diabetes and chronic kidney disease transitioning to dialysis therapy from October 2007 to September2011. Hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations during the pre-ESRD period and antidiabetic medication regimens. The outcome of post-ESRD all-cause mortality was evaluated relative to pre-ESRD hypoglycemia. The outcome of pre-ESRD hypoglycemia-related hospitalization was evaluated relative to antidiabetic medication regimens. We examined whether theoccurrence and frequency of pre-ESRD hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations are associated with post-ESRD mortality using Cox regression models adjusted for case-mix covariates. In a subcohort of patients prescribed 0 to 2 oral antidiabetic drugs and/or insulin, we examined the 12 most commonly prescribed antidiabetic medication regimens and risk for pre-ESRD hypoglycemia-related hospitalization using logistic regression models adjusted for case-mix covariates. Among 30,156 patients who met eligibility criteria, the occurrence of pre-ESRD hypoglycemia-related hospitalization(s) was associated with higher post-ESRD mortality risk: adjusted HR (aHR), 1.25; 95% CI, 1.17-1.34 (reference group: no hypoglycemia hospitalization). Increasing frequency of hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was independently associated with incrementally higher mortality risk: aHRs of 1.21 (95% CI, 1.12-1.30), 1.47 (95% CI, 1.19-1.82), and 2.07(95% CI, 1.46-2.95) for 1, 2, and 3 ormorehypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, respectively (reference group: no hypoglycemia hospitalization). Compared with patients who were prescribed neither oral antidiabetic drugs nor insulin, medication regimens that included sulfonylureas and/or insulin were associated with higher risk for hypoglycemia. Residual confounding cannot be excluded. Among incident patients with ESRD with diabetes, a dose-dependent relationship between frequency of pre-ESRD hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations and post-ESRD mortality was observed. Further study of diabetic management strategies that prevent hypoglycemia as patients with chronic kidney disease transition to ESRD are warranted.

Estimating the risk of severe hypoglycemic event related to glucose-lowering treatment among Italian patients with diabetes: the HYPOTHESIS database.

The primary objective of this study was to estimate 1) the annual risk of undergoing a severe hypoglycemic event in Italian patients with diabetes and 2) the risk of hospitalization following such event. From the HYPOTHESIS database, powered by 46 emergency departments covering a 12-million-odd population, data were extracted of 1,922 hypoglycemic events occurring in patients with diabetes in 2011. The mean age was 71.5 (standard deviation 16.8) years, 50.1% were men, and blood glucose at the time of the event was 44.2 (26.5) mg/dL. Patients were being treated with insulin alone (55%) or in combination with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA, 15%), or with OHA alone, either in monotherapy (14%) or in multiple therapy (16%). Comorbidities were recorded in 71.8% of the patients. Based on the rates of glucose-lowering drug use in Italian patients with diabetes, the annual risk of undergoing a serious hypoglycemic event was estimated at 1.27% for subjects treated with insulin alone, the highest (p<0.00001) as compared with insulin + OHA (0.41%) or OHA alone, either in monotherapy or in multiple therapy (0.1% and 0.17%, respectively). The risk of being hospitalized following the hypoglycemic event was the least (27.6%) for subjects treated with insulin alone (p<0.0083). Subjects treated with insulin + OHA showed a lower risk (34.2%) as compared with that for subjects treated with OHA (p<0.02). Death occurs in 7% of hospitalized patients. Older age (p<0.0001) and comorbidities (p<0.0001) were risk factors for hypoglycemia-related hospitalization. Treatments with insulin alone (p<0.005) or in combination (p<0.049) were negatively associated with hospital admission. Severe hypoglycemic events associated with the use of oral glucose-lowering agents carry the highest risk of hospital treatment. As such, they are also likely to generate higher tangible and intangible costs.

Risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia among older Korean people with diabetes mellitus

The objective of this study was to carry out a large population-based study to understand the factors associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations among older Korean adults with diabetes mellitus.This study analyzed data from a subset of the 2013 Health Insurance and Review and Assessment service-Adult Patient Sample. A total of 307,170 subjects, comprising 41.7% men and 58.3% women, had diabetes mellitus. Hypertension (80.8%) was the most common comorbidity, and dyslipidemia (59.0%) and ischemic heart disease (21.3%) were also prevalent. Approximately half of the patients with diabetes had >2 comorbidities, and two-thirds of the patients had >3 comorbidities. The proportion of patients taking insulin or sulfonylureas was 54.9%, and 23.2% of the patients were taking other medications. About 21.9% of the patients were treated nonpharmacologically. A total of 2867 hypoglycemia-related admission occurred, the incident rate was 9.33 per 1000 person. The risk was higher among female patients and older patients with several comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and malignancies. Treatment modalities, including insulin and sulfonylureas, were associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia. After adjustments for age, sex, the different comorbidities, and the treatment modalities, we determined that chronic kidney disease and dementia were associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia-related hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 2.52 and OR = 1.93, respectively). Furthermore, patients with chronic kidney disease or dementia who were treated with sulfonylureas and insulin had very high risks of hypoglycemia, and the incident rate was 66.6 and 63.75 per 1000 person, respectively.In conclusion, the presence of comorbidities, especially chronic kidney disease and dementia, increased the risk of hypoglycemia-associated hospitalization within this population of older patients with diabetes. The impact of the treatment modality, for example, insulin or sulfonylureas, on hypoglycemia was much greater among these patients.

Risk factors for 30-day readmission following hypoglycemia-related emergency room and inpatient admissions

ObjectiveHypoglycemia is a serious complication of diabetes treatment. This retrospective observational study characterized hypoglycemia-related hospital emergency room (ER) and inpatient (in-pt) admissions and identified risk factors for 30-day all-cause and...

The Potential Cost Implications of Averting Severe Hypoglycemic Events Requiring Hospitalization in High-Risk Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Using Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Severe hypoglycemia remains a major barrier to optimal diabetes management and places a high burden on the US health care system due to the high costs of hypoglycemia-related emergency visits and hospitalizations. Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) who have hypoglycemia unawareness are at a particularly high risk for severe hypoglycemia, the incidence of which may be reduced by the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM). We performed a cost calculation using values of key parameters derived from various published sources to examine the potential cost implications of standalone RT-CGM as a tool for reducing rates of severe hypoglycemia requiring hospitalization in adult patients with T1DM who have hypoglycemia unawareness. In a hypothetical commercial health plan with 10 million members aged 18-64 years, 9.3% (930 000) are expected to have diagnosed diabetes, with approximately 5% (46 500) having T1DM, of whom approximately 20% (9300) have hypoglycemia unawareness. RT-CGM was estimated to reduce the cost of annual hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in this select population by $54 369 000, yielding an estimated net cost savings of $8 799 000 to $12 519 000 and a savings of $946 to $1346 per patient. This article presents a cost calculation based on available data from multiple sources showing that RT-CGM has the potential to reduce short-term health care costs by averting severe hypoglycemic events requiring hospitalization in a select high-risk population. Prospective, randomized studies that are adequately powered and specifically enroll patients at high risk for severe hypoglycemia are needed to confirm that RT-CGM significantly reduces the incidence of these costly events.

Cost and co-morbidities associated with hypoglycemic inpatients in Belgium

Background and objectives: Little is known about the economic burden of hypoglycemia in Belgium, or its related co-morbidities. This study aimed at estimating the cost and length of stay associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations in diabetic patients in Belgium and the association between hypoglycemia and in-hospital all-cause mortality, incidence of traumatic fractures, depression, and cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or unstable angina), using retrospective data from 2011. Methods: Patient data were retrieved from the IMS Hospital Disease Database, including longitudinal (per calendar year) information on diagnoses, procedures, and drugs prescribed in ∼20% of all Belgian hospital beds. The eligible population included all adult (<19 year) diabetic (both types) patients, further split between those with/without a history of hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations. Diabetes, hypoglycemia, and co-morbidities of interest were identified based on International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Version 9 (ICD-9) diagnosis codes. All costs were extrapolated to 2014 using progression in hospitalization costs since 2001. Results: A total of 43 410 diabetes-related hospitalizations were retrieved, corresponding to 30,710 distinct patients. The average hospitalization cost was €10,258 when hypoglycemia was documented (n = 2625), vs €7173 in other diabetic hospitalized patients (n = 40,785). When controlling for age and sex, a higher mortality risk (OR = 1.59; p-value <0.001), a higher incidence of traumatic fractures (OR = 1.25; p-value = 0.009), and a higher probability of depression-related hospitalizations (OR = 1.90; p-value <0.001) were observed in hypoglycemic patients. A similar risk of cardiovascular event was observed in both groups, but hypoglycemic patients were more at risk of experiencing multiple events. Conclusion: Hospitalizations for hypoglycemia are expensive and associated with an increased risk of depression and traumatic fractures as well as increased in-hospital mortality. Interventions that can help reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, and consequently the burden on hospitals and society, without compromising glycemic control, will help to further improve diabetes management.

Healthcare resource implications of hypoglycemia-related hospital admissions and inpatient hypoglycemia: retrospective record-linked cohort studies in England

ObjectiveUsing a retrospective cohort study, the mean length of hospital stay (LoS) and total per-patient expenditure for hypoglycemia requiring admission to hospital were estimated. In a separate matched retrospective cohort...

Identifying factors associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations among elderly patients with T2DM in the US: a novel approach using influential variable analysis

Objective:Healthcare providers managing older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face a complex milieu of medical conditions and comorbidities, which increase the risk of unintended treatment consequences. The objective of this study was to understand factors associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations among adults with T2DM with an emphasis on older patients.Research design and methods:A large retrospective cohort study using claims data from the United States was undertaken identifying actively registered patients diagnosed with T2DM and at least one diabetes medication prescription.Main outcome measures:The main outcomes included hypoglycemia-related hospitalization and frequency of comorbidities.Results:Of patients with T2DM and hospitalization records (n = 887,182), 52.3% were male and 30.7% were aged ≥65 years. At baseline, the proportion of patients taking metformin was 52.4%, insulin 7.3%, and sulfonylurea 26.4%. Among those with diabetes-related hospitalizations, the incidence of hospitalization-related hypoglycemia in patients ≥65 years of age was greater than in patients <65 years of age (0.59 compared to 0.16 per 1000 person years). Using boosted regression tree modeling, age (older vs. younger), sulfonylurea use, insulin use, and renal disease were variables most associated with predicting hospitalizations associated with hypoglycemia. Elderly patients prescribed both insulin and sulfonylurea were most likely to experience hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations (odds ratio = 4.7; 95% CI 3.7–6.1).Conclusions:Older patients using both insulin and sulfonylurea were most likely to experience a hypoglycemia-related hospitalization. Age, sulfonylurea use, insulin use, renal disease, a history of hypoglycemia-related hospitalization and general hospitalization were the leading variables associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalization. Glucagon-like peptide and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 medication use was not significantly associated with hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations. The strength of this analysis, compared to similar studies, lies in the large and generalizable sample size and statistical methodology, which control for the interdependence of predictive variables. Limitations include lack of information, such as dietary intake and exercise habits, which are known to influence the rate of hypoglycemia in certain patients. Given the frequency of use of insulin and sulfonylurea in a population at risk for hypoglycemia (older patients with diabetes), care should be taken when balancing cost and efficacy against safety and increased risk of hospitalization due to hypoglycemia.