ABSTRACT
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are increasingly initiated as treatment for type 2 diabetes due to favourable cardiorenal characteristics. However, studies have identified an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We carried out a retrospective, case-based study at East and North Herts NHS Trust between February 2018 and December 2020. Fifteen cases of SGLT2i associated DKA were identified in people with presumed type 2 diabetes;33.3% were classed as euglycaemic DKA with a blood glucose of <11mmol/L. All cases were associated with a significant precipitating factor including diarrhoea, vomiting, reduced oral intake and sepsis. One case was related to COVID-19. Two people were subsequently found to have raised islet autoantibodies suggesting type 1 diabetes or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults. It is important that awareness of SGLT2i associated DKA is raised among users and health care practitioners, including the recognition of euglycaemic DKA. Sick day rules should be emphasised and reiterated at clinical encounters. Non-specialists in primary care, oncology and in perioperative settings should be empowered to advocate for temporary withdrawal and there should be readier access to blood ketone monitoring when required. When SGLT2i associated DKA occurs, due consideration should be given to evaluate the diabetes classification and investigate the circumstances of the event. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To investigate why a tertiary hospital has a high number of patients with type 2 diabetes presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis. Method(s): An audit was carried out looking at all of the inpatient admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes between 2021 and 2022. Any patient with a coding of diabetic ketoacidosis and type 2 diabetes had their inpatient clinical notes evaluated using the following criteria: 1) Were the criteria for diabetes ketoacidosis met? 2) Patient age. 3) Patient anti-diabetic medications. 4) If relevant, who prescribed a sodium-glucose cotransporter- 2 inhibitor and was sick day rule advice given? 5) Did the patient have a concurrent Covid-19 infection? Results: Almost a quarter of patients (24%) included in this audit did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for diabetic ketoacidosis. For those that did: -Over a quarter of patients (26%) were on sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors with the majority being commenced by GPs (81%). There was no documentation as to whether sick day rule advice had been given. -Only 7% of patients had a concurrent Covid-19 infection. -The majority of patients (68%) were aged less than 75 years. Conclusion(s): Coding on discharge summaries is important and junior doctors may need further guidance with regards to the diagnostic criteria for diabetic ketoacidosis. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors inhibitors are a significant cause of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes and patient sick day rule advice is needed prior to initiation. Covid-19 infection wasn't found to be a significant causative factor.
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objectives: To analyze the evolution of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes in the mid-term follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic and to describe its impact on this population. Method(s): Multicenter and prospective registry that included patients with AF and diabetes attended in cardiology clinics. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with the occurrence of clinical events and mortality. Recruitment was performed in February-December 2019. Result(s): The evolution of 633 patients, 96,2% of those included in the REFADI registry with a median follow-up of 835 days was analyzed (mean age 73.8 +/- 8.5 years, 54.3% male, CHA2DS2-VASc 4,34 +/- 1,4, HAS-BLED 2,47 +/- 0,96) were analyzed. The proportion of anticoagulated patients remained constant (95.6% vs 94.5%;P = .24). There was a decrease in the prescription of vitamin K antagonists (from 31.4% to 19.7%;P < .01), and an increase in the use of direct anticoagulants (from 62.0% to 70.3%;P < .01). During the follow-up there was an increase in the prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors (from 20.0% to 25.5%;P < .01) and GLP1 agonists (from 4.2% to 9.1%;P < .01). During this period, 17.2% of patients died, the majority from cardiovascular causes, 6.4% from COVID-19, 2.8% from stroke, and 1.8% from hemorrhage. Older age, lower ejection fraction, lower hemoglobin levels, and especially lower direct anticoagulants prescription were associated with mortality. Conclusion(s): Patients with AF and diabetes have a high thromboembolic risk and a high risk of developing complications, especially of cardiovascular origin.Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia
ABSTRACT
Background: The outbreak of a new coronavirus in China in 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global health crisis. Objective(s): This study was performed to investigate the effect of different underlying diseases on mortality in patients with COVID-19. Method(s): This retrospective cohort study was performed on COVID-19 patients admitted to the Shahid Rahimi and Sohada-ye Ashayer teaching hospitals in Khorramabad, Iran, from 2019 to 2021. Data on disease severity, clinical manifestations, mortality, and underlying disorders were collected and analyzed using the SPSS software version 22 at a 95% confidence interval and 0.05 sig-nificance level. Result(s): The study included 9653 men (48%) and 10332 women (52%). Patients with chronic kidney diseases, cancer, chronic obstruc-tive pulmonary disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes were at higher mortality risk than those without these underlying diseases, respectively. However, there was no significant relationship between asthma and mortality. Also, age > 50 years, male gender, oxygen saturation < 93 on admission, and symptoms lasting <= 5 days were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion(s): Since patients with underlying diseases are at higher mortality risk, they should precisely follow the advice provided by health authorities and receive a complete COVID-19 vaccination series.Copyright © 2022, Author(s).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has had an extremely negative impact on the patients with diabetes mellitus (DM both in terms of a more severe course of COVID -19 and an increased risk of death. AIM: Analysis of risk factors for death due to COVID -19 in patients with DM type 1 and type 2 (DM1 and DM2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the database of the national diabetes register (NDR), which included DM patients with COVID-19 and reported virus infection outcome (recovery/or death) in 15 712 DM1 and 322 279 DM2 patients during a 2-year follow-up period (01/02/2020 to 03/04/2022) (discharge date)). RESULT(S): Case fatality rate in patients with DM, who underwent COVID -19 was 17.1% (DM1-8.8%;DM2-17.5%). As a result of multivariate regression analysis of seven significant factors in DM1 and thirteen in DM2 (evaluated by univariate anlisys), a number of the most important predictors of risk for fatal outcome were identified: in DM1 these were age >=65 years (OR =4.01, 95% CI: 1.42-11.36), presence of arterial hypertension (AH) (OR =2.72, 95% CI: 1.03 -7.16) and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) (OR = 7.22, 95% CI: 1.98-26.29);for T2DM: age >= 65 years (OR =2.53, 95% CI: 1.96-3.27), male (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23-1.84), duration DM >=10 years (OR =2.01, 95% CI: 1.61-2.51), BMI >= 30 kg/m2 (OR =1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.55), ASCVD/CKD (OR =1.49, 95% CI: 1.01-2.04), history of diabetic coma (OR =12.97, 95% CI: 1.89-88.99) and presence of disability (OR =1.40, 95% CI: 1.14-1.73). In T2DM, the type of antidiabetic therapy (ADT) prior to COVID -19 (last visit before the development of infection) had a significant impact: Insulin therapy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.30-2.07), sulfonylureas (SU) (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23-1.84));dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (iDPP-4) therapy (OR =0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (iSGLT2) therapy (OR =0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.88). Vaccination was the most important protective factor in both types of DM: DM1 OR =0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.59;SD2 OR =0.20, 95% CI: 0.16-0.26. CONCLUSION(S): The common risk factor for fatal outcome in both DM1 and DM2 was age >=65 years;in DM1 - history of hypertension and DFS, in DM2 - male sex, diabetes duration >=10 years, BMI >=30 kg/m2, history of ASCVD/CKD and diabetic coma, disability. In T2DM, significant differences in risk were observed depending on the type of ADT: insulin and SU therapy were factors that increased the risk of death, whereas therapy with iDPP-4 and iSGLT2 reduced the risk of death. Vaccination reduced the risk of death in DM1 and DM2 by 5.2 and 5-fold, respectively.Copyright © Endocrinology Research Centre, 2022.
ABSTRACT
This review article discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms of the development of coronavirus infection in obese patients. It has been shown that obesity is considered as the most important risk factor for the development of many comorbid diseases, including severe forms and deaths as a result of a new coronavirus infection. The higher incidence and severity of a new coronavirus infection in obese patients is based on a complex of factors, the main of which are an increase in cardiovascular risk, including a tendency to thrombosis, a decrease in the efficiency of the respiratory system, impaired immune response, and the presence of chronic inflammatory state. The article discusses non-drug approaches and issues of pharmacological therapy in patients with obesity in the context of a pandemic of a new coronavirus infection. It is shown that the implementation of national quarantine measures has led to an increase in physical inactivity, the level of stress and a change in the eating behavior of the population, closing a vicious circle and contributing to an increase in body weight. For this reason, the efforts of physicians of therapeutic specialties should be directed primarily to increasing resistance to infection among obese patients and combating physical inactivity. The main groups of drugs that can be used to combat lipotoxicity are listed. It was noted that infectious disease doctors and endocrinologists can use those groups of drugs that affect the most vulnerable pathogenetic triggers for the development of obesity and comorbidities: hunger and satiety processes, decreased insulin sensitivity, development of lipotoxicity and chronic inflammation. It has been proven that the range of positive effects of new antihyperglycemic drugs from the groups of type 1 glucagon-like peptide agonists and type 2 sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors, combined with a well-studied efficacy and safety profile, represents a new opportunity for the treatment of obesity in the context of a coronavirus infection pandemic.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
This article summarizes the top 20 research studies of 2021 identified as POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) that did not address the COVID-19 pandemic. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists prevent adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and also reduce all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Most older adults (mean age, 75 years) with prediabetes do not progress to diabetes. Among patients in this age group with type 2 diabetes treated with medication, an A1C level of less than 7% is associated with increased risk of hospitalization for hypoglycemia, especially when using a sulfonylurea or insulin. For patients with chronic low back pain, exercise, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, duloxetine, and opioids were shown to be more effective than control in achieving a 30% reduction in pain, but self-discontinuation of duloxetine and opioids was common. There is no clinically important difference between muscle relaxants and placebo in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain. In patients with chronic pain, low- to moderate-quality evidence supports exercise, yoga, massage, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. For acute musculoskeletal pain, acetaminophen, 1,000 mg, plus ibuprofen, 400 mg, without an opioid is a good option. Regarding screening for colorectal cancer, trial evidence supports performing fecal immunochemical testing every other year. For chronic constipation, evidence supports polyethylene glycol, senna, fiber supplements, magnesium-based products, and fruit-based products. The following abdominal symptoms carry a greater than 3% risk of cancer or inflammatory bowel disease: dysphagia or change in bowel habits in men;rectal bleeding in women;and abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, or dyspepsia in men and women older than 60 years. For secondary prevention in those with established arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, 81 mg of aspirin daily appears to be effective. The Framingham Risk Score and the Pooled Cohort Equations both overestimate the risk of cardiovascular events. Over 12 years, no association between egg consumption and cardiovascular events was demonstrated. Gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, and venlafaxine provide clinically meaningful improvements in chronic neuropathic pain. In patients with moderate to severe depression, initial titration above the minimum starting dose of antidepressants in the first eight weeks of treatment is not more likely to increase response. In adults with iron deficiency anemia, adding vitamin C to oral iron has no effect. In children with pharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, acute bronchitis, or acute otitis media, providing education combined with a take-and-hold antibiotic prescription results in 1 in 4 of those children eventually taking an antibiotic.Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Family Physicians.
ABSTRACT
The proceedings contain 67 papers. The topics discussed include: cardiovascular system and COVID-19;long term sequale on COVID-19;fighting vascular disease: thoughts about 2022 Taiwan hypertension guidelines;quantification of hemodynamic parameters using 4D flow MRI;nanomedicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis;direct thrombus imaging;clinical outcome in patients with deep vein thrombosis;cardiovascular benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitor;central blood pressure and pressure wave reflection in cardiovascular abnormalities: do not put them in shade;association between excess pressure and cognitive function among elderly population;visceral adipose tissue, coronary artery calcification and heart failure: a moderated mediation analysis;and the cardio-ankle vascular index was associated with CHADS2 score in patients with atrial fibrillation: a coupling registry study.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 is intrinsically a systemic inflammatory disorder; hence, those patients suffering an underlying chronic inflammatory disease such as diabetes mellitus are at high risk of severe complications. Preventing or suppressing the inflammatory responses are of importance in diabetic patients. Sodium-glucose cotransporters-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a newly introduced anti-diabetic drugs that have hypoglycemic effects through the urinary excretion of glucose. They also have an anti-inflammatory potential in diabetes patients, in addition to improving glycemic control, and while there is no direct data available in diabetic patients with COVID-19 disease, there is evidence that suggests that SGLT2i can reduce systemic inflammation and diminish the cytokine storm effect via several cellular mechanisms. In the current review, our aim was to classify and describe the molecular and cellular pathways by which SGLT2i have anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic patients with COVID-19 disease.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has had an extremely negative impact on the patients with diabetes mellitus (DM both in terms of a more severe course of COVID -19 and an increased risk of death. AIM: Analysis of risk factors for death due to COVID -19 in patients with DM type 1 and type 2 (DM1 and DM2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the database of the national diabetes register (NDR), which included DM patients with COVID-19 and reported virus infection outcome (recovery/or death) in 15 712 DM1 and 322 279 DM2 patients during a 2-year follow-up period (01/02/2020 to 03/04/2022) (discharge date)). RESULT(S): Case fatality rate in patients with DM, who underwent COVID -19 was 17.1% (DM1-8.8%;DM2-17.5%). As a result of multivariate regression analysis of seven significant factors in DM1 and thirteen in DM2 (evaluated by univariate anlisys), a number of the most important predictors of risk for fatal outcome were identified: in DM1 these were age >=65 years (OR =4.01, 95% CI: 1.42-11.36), presence of arterial hypertension (AH) (OR =2.72, 95% CI: 1.03 -7.16) and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) (OR = 7.22, 95% CI: 1.98-26.29);for T2DM: age >= 65 years (OR =2.53, 95% CI: 1.96-3.27), male (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23-1.84), duration DM >=10 years (OR =2.01, 95% CI: 1.61-2.51), BMI >= 30 kg/m2 (OR =1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.55), ASCVD/CKD (OR =1.49, 95% CI: 1.01-2.04), history of diabetic coma (OR =12.97, 95% CI: 1.89-88.99) and presence of disability (OR =1.40, 95% CI: 1.14-1.73). In T2DM, the type of antidiabetic therapy (ADT) prior to COVID -19 (last visit before the development of infection) had a significant impact: Insulin therapy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.30-2.07), sulfonylureas (SU) (OR =1.51, 95% CI: 1.23-1.84));dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (iDPP-4) therapy (OR =0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (iSGLT2) therapy (OR =0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.88). Vaccination was the most important protective factor in both types of DM: DM1 OR =0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.59;SD2 OR =0.20, 95% CI: 0.16-0.26. CONCLUSION(S): The common risk factor for fatal outcome in both DM1 and DM2 was age >=65 years;in DM1 - history of hypertension and DFS, in DM2 - male sex, diabetes duration >=10 years, BMI >=30 kg/m2, history of ASCVD/CKD and diabetic coma, disability. In T2DM, significant differences in risk were observed depending on the type of ADT: insulin and SU therapy were factors that increased the risk of death, whereas therapy with iDPP-4 and iSGLT2 reduced the risk of death. Vaccination reduced the risk of death in DM1 and DM2 by 5.2 and 5-fold, respectively. Copyright © Endocrinology Research Centre, 2022.
ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM/QUESTION: With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) on the rise, Grady Health System (GHS) implemented a novel Electronic-Consultation (E-Consult) Service for outpatient Nephrology and we sought to determine the characteristics and outcomes of these patients to better recognize the utility in our new approach to kidney care. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM/INTERVENTION: The Nephrology EConsult service was launched in September 2020 across all primary care clinics at GHS, which is located in downtown Atlanta, GA, and serves a population of mainly Medicare/Medicaid and uninsured patients. With this service, Primary Care Providers (PCPs) submit an E- Consult and a single Nephrologist reviews the chart to communicate closed-loop recommendations via the patient's Electronic Health Record (EHR). If high-complexity factors are discovered (including nephrotic-range proteinuria, acute kidney injury (AKI), or CKD 4/5), the patient is scheduled for an in-person clinic visit with Nephrology. MEASURES OF SUCCESS: We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 200 randomly-selected E-Consults placed 09/2020-12/2021 to determine disease complexity, A1c and albuminuria screening rates, DM2 control, common comorbidities, renoprotective medication use, as well as the percentage of PCPs who completed the consultation recommendations. We identified the number of in-person Nephrology clinic visits that were prevented with this virtual service and compared waitlist times against a traditional referral to outpatient Nephrology. FINDINGS TO DATE: The majority of patients (55%) have low-complexity kidney disease, and nearly half of all E- Consults are managed entirely virtually, avoiding an in-person visit to Nephrology. Fewer E-Consults have high- complexity disease (45%), most of which involve AKI (60%) and/or CKD4 (35%), warranting an in-person Nephrology evaluation, and with this service an in-person visit occurs in 1/3 the time of traditionally-placed referrals. The most common comorbidities are hypertension (80%) and DM2 (51%), and interestingly, the majority of patients with DM2 have relative control of their disease with an A1c <7% (63%). However, the rate of screening A1c differs from albuminuria: most patients have a recent A1c (70%) while less than half of patients have a recent urine albumin. Very few patients are prescribed an SGLT2-inhibitor (5%) and more than a quarter of eligible patients are not on any renoprotective medications. Nearly a quarter of PCPs do not complete the e-consult recommendations, representing an area where EMR automatization may be useful. KEY LESSONS FOR DISSEMINATION: Our Nephrology E-Consult Service improves access to kidney care for all patients, reduces clinic wait times for those with high-complexity disease, and may play an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic by reducing healthcare-associated exposures. By providing a closed-loop method of communication between PCP and Nephrologist, guideline-based recommendations for routine screening and renoprotective strategies can be exchanged for the patient's benefit.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are both considered to be part of standard care in the management of glycemia in type 2 diabetes. Recent trial evidence has indicated benefits on primary kidney end points for individual drugs within each medication class. Despite the potential benefits of combining SGLT2is and GLP-1RAs for glycemia management, according to national and international guideline recommendations, there is currently limited data on kidney end points for this drug combination. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study are to assess the real-world effects of combination SGLT2i and GLP-1RA therapies for diabetes management on kidney end points, glycemic control, and weight in people with type 2 diabetes who are being treated with renin-angiotensin system blockade medication. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study will use the electronic health records of people with type 2 diabetes that are registered with general practices covering over 15 million people in England and Wales and are included in the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre network. A propensity score-matched cohort of prevalent new users of SGLT2is and GLP-1RAs and those who have been prescribed SGLT2is and GLP-1RAs in combination will be identified. They will be matched based on drug histories, comorbidities, and demographics. A repeated-measures, multilevel, linear regression analysis will be performed to compare the mean change (from baseline) in estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 and 24 months between those who switched to combined therapy and those continuing monotherapy with an SGLT2i or GLP-1RA. The secondary end points will be albuminuria, serum creatinine level, glycated hemoglobin level, and BMI. These will also be assessed for change at the 12- and 24-month follow-ups. RESULTS: The study is due to commence in March 2022 and is expected to be complete by September 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will be the first to assess the impact of combination SGLT2i and GLP-1RA therapy in type 2 diabetes on primary kidney end points from a real-world perspective. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/34206.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the prevalence and variations in precipitating causes of diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA) across hospitals and types of diabetes across the West Midlands. Methods: All people admitted with DKA from 1 January 2021 and 30 September 2021 in six hospitals in West Midlands as part of DEKODE database were included in this study. Precipitating causes were categorised as: excess alcohol-associated, covid-19 related, drug-induced, inter-current illness, new diagnosis of diabetes, sepsis, SGLT2 inhibitor related, suboptimal compliance to treatment, surgical, and unknown. Results from each of the participating hospitals are reported as frequencies and proportion anonymously. The differences in frequencies of precipitating causes by hospitals and type of diabetes were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test respectively. Results: A total of 377 episodes were identified. Overall, inter-current illness (37.4%, n = 141) and suboptimal compliance to treatment (26.8%, n = 101) were the main precipitating causes of DKA. covid-19 contributed to 7.4% of episodes. While there were no significant differences between precipitating causes of DKA in people with type 1 (n = 210) and type 2 (n = 113) diabetes (p = 0.173), we noticed a variation across hospitals (p = 0.035). For example, hospital A had a higher prevalence of inter-current illness (44.4% vs 23.3%) and lower frequency of suboptimal compliance to treatment (18.8% vs 34.3%) compared to hospital B. Conclusion: Intercurrent illness and sub-optimal compliance remain common causes of DKA regardless of diabetes type. The DEKODE database allows rapid analysis of regional DKA data for both research and clinical care.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring (flash CGM) has been rapidly accepted in real life clinical setting. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study across two centres, delivering the similar standard of care, over three years (n=362), in patients who utilised FreeStyle Libre Pro CGM to understand glycemic metrics and variability. The key glycemic metrics;TIR, Time Below Range (TBR), Time Above Range (TAR), estimated HbA1c, average glucose was analysed. Descriptive statistics, Pearson r and ANOVA were utilised for analysis. Results: Overall, in total 24.8% (90/362) were in TIR >70%, with 14.7% (18/122) patients in 2018, 17.6% (30/170) in 2019 and 60% (42/70) in 2020. In total 37% (134/362) were in TAR < 25%, 29.5% (36/122) in 2018, 28.2% (48/170) in 2019 and 71.4% (50/70) in 2020. In total 45.3% (164/362) were in TBR < 4%, 44.2% (54/122) in 2018, 46.4% (79/170) in 2019 and 44.2% (31/70) in 2020. Overall, 9.3% (34/362) achieved all three metrices (TIR >70%, TAR < 25%, TBR < 4%), with 4.9% (6/122) in 2018, 7.6% (13/170) in 2019, 24.2 (17/70) in 2020. There was a significant negative correlation between the eHbA1c and TIR (Pearson r – 0.74, 95% CI -0.79 to -0.69, p < 0.0001). There was significant improvement in TIR and TAR over three years. The eHbA1c (6.5%) and average glucose (139.7mg/dl) were lowest in the year 2020, which were comparable with values in previous years. Lesser hypoglycaemic events were noticed in CGM. (figure). [Formula presented] Discussion/Conclusion: There was a significant change in the glycemic metrics. We attribute the remarkable improvement, over three years, to the better awareness in the patients to manage diabetes, greater adoption of guideline directed, contemporary therapeutics including SGLT2 inhibitors, advanced insulins. This coincided with the COVID-19 induced fear of mortality and lockdown led better metabolic health, that resulted in better self-care of diabetes.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: : Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are glucose-lowering agents known to have a significant impact on renal and cardiovascular outcomes. Given the expanded indications for SGLT2i, it remains unknown if there has been a change in the prescribing patterns related to the number of prescriptions written and the specialty of the prescribing physician. Hypothesis: : We hypothesize that the prescribing patterns of SGLT2i have been changed along with the expansion of SGLT2i's indications approved by the FDA. Methods: We evaluated records of the outpatient prescriptions at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) from Jan 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2020, using Epic SlicerDicer software (Epic). The prescriptions of SGLT2i were identified using the terms “SGLT2 inhibitor”, “SGLT2 inhibitor and Biguanide Combinations”, “SGLT2 inhibitor and DPP-4 inhibitor Combinations”, and “SGLT2 inhibitor, DPP-4 inhibitor, and Biguanide Combo”. The numbers of SGLT2i prescriptions were further analyzed per the authorizing physician specialty. Due to the limitation of the SlicerDicer, we are unable to collect the demographic characteristics of patients who received SGLT2i. Results: In total, n = 10,745 prescriptions of SGLT2i were identified through 2018 to 2020. As shown in Figure 1, prior to the DAPA-HF trial, SGLT2i were mainly prescribed by physicians specialized in internal medicine (IM) and family medicine (FM). No considerable changes in the numbers of SGLT2i prescriptions were noticed from 2018 Q1 to 2019 Q3 with an average of n = 679 per quarter. Since 2019 Q4, advanced heart failure (AHF) and general cardiologists (GC) began to prescribe SGLT2i aggressively, accompanied by a steady increase of SGLT2i prescriptions prescribed by IM and FM, except for 2020 Q2, which could be explained by the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the numbers of SGLT2i prescribed by AHF and GC have increased by 2,313% and 785% from 2019 Q4 to 2020 Q4, respectively. Conclusions: A substantially increased utilization of SGLT2i has been observed in a tertiary care health system among various physician specialties after the DAPA-HF trial. The numbers of SGLT2i prescribed by AHF and GC have increased significantly. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in a large-scale setting.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This review of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including new and emerging evidence for treatment of patients with this condition, is intended to offer data supporting the use of specific agents for this patient population. SUMMARY: Chronic heart failure is a major health concern affecting millions of Americans annually and remains a significant burden on the healthcare system. Heart failure is divided into categories based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Current treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, defined by an LVEF of less than 40%, involve a variety of agents with established morbidity and mortality benefits. This is in stark contrast to directed treatments for patients with HFpEF, defined by an LVEF of greater than 50%. Treatments for this form of heart failure have been elusive until recently, when studies were published with sacubitril/valsartan and empagliflozin. Results of the PARAGON-HF trial suggested benefit from sacubitril/valsartan in patients with an ejection fraction between 45% and 57%, leading to its approval in 2021 as the first medication indicated for treatment of patients with a preserved ejection fraction. Months later, the results of the EMPEROR-Preserved trial demonstrated a statistically significant benefit in the composite outcome of heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death in patients with HFpEF taking empagliflozin. This medication has yet to gain approval for HFpEF; however, these data along with ongoing and future trials will likely impact standard treatment for these patients. CONCLUSION: The PARAGON-HF and EMPEROR-Preserved trials will serve as the foundation for a new era in the treatment of HFpEF.
Subject(s)
Heart Failure , Aminobutyrates/therapeutic use , Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use , Biphenyl Compounds , Drug Combinations , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Humans , Stroke Volume , Tetrazoles/therapeutic use , Valsartan , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Introduction: We report a case series of severe ketoacidosis after COVID-19 vaccination in a type 1 diabetes patients treated with insulin and an SGLT-2 inhibitor. Case Report: We present two cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus. One patient was treated with insulin therapy and an SGLT-2 inhibitor, and the other patient was treated with insulin therapy alone. Both patients became ill after coronavirus disease-2019 vaccination, making it difficult to continue their diet or insulin injections. On admission, they developed severe diabetic ketoacidosis. This is the first report of ketoacidosis after coronavirus disease-2019 vaccination. Conclusion: The vaccine should be carefully administered to type 1 diabetes patients receiving intensive insulin therapy and a sodium-glucose transporter due to the high risk ketoacidosis. It is important to instruct patients to drink sufficient fluids and to continue insulin injections when they become sick.