<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes who have hypoglycemia or near-normal glucose values during the last day of hospitalization have higher rates of 30-day readmission and postdischarge mortality, according to a study published online May 1 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Elias Spanakis, M.D., from the Baltimore VA Medical Center, and colleagues used data from 843,978 admissions of patients with diabetes at the Veteran Affairs hospitals during a 14-year period to investigate whether patients with diabetes and low glucose values during the last day of hospitalization are at increased risk for readmission or mortality.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the rate ratios (RR) increased progressively for all five outcomes of interest (30-day readmission rate; 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day mortality rate; and combined 30-day readmission\/mortality rate) as the minimum glucose concentrations progressively decreased below 90 to 99 mg\/dL versus 100 to 109 mg\/dL (30-day readmission RR, 1.01 to 1.45; 30-day readmission\/mortality RR, 1.01 to 1.71; 30-day mortality RR, 0.99 to 5.82; 90-day mortality RR, 1.01 to 2.40; and 180-day mortality RR, 1.03 to 1.91). The 30-day readmission rate; 30-, 90-, and 180-day postdischarge mortality rate; and combined 30-day readmission\/mortality rate were all greater for patients with diabetes with glucose levels <92.9 mg\/dL; <45.2 mg\/dL, 65.8 mg\/dL, and 67.3 mg\/dL; and <87.2 mg\/dL, respectively.<\/p>\n
“Potential approaches which may reduce the risk for readmission or death after discharge are: Delaying patient release from the hospital until normoglycemia is achieved, modifying outpatient diabetes mellitus medications or [advising] patients to perform frequent glucose monitoring or use continuous glucose monitoring devices,” the authors write.<\/p>\n
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.<\/p>\n
Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n