ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Given the higher rate of hospital admissions among diabetic patients, discharge should be used to optimize outpatient treatment. We evaluate a follow-up program for diabetic patients after hospital discharge to determine the evolution of glycemic control. METHOD: Retrospective collection of data on 375 diabetic patients enrolled in the follow-up program for optimization treatment: telephonic follow-up where treatment was adjusted if needed; and three months after discharge an in-person consultation was scheduled. Factors potentially associated with a 1% improvement in HbA1c were studied by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of enrolled patients completed the follow-up program; each patient received an average of 4.6 phone calls. Globally, basal mean HbA1c was significantly lower three months later regarding the initial value (8.6 vs. 7.2%); the most relevant lowering was found in the group of hyper-glycemia by poor metabolic control (from 9.9 to 7.7%), combined hyperglycemia (from 9.3 to 7.3%) and debut (from 8.3 to 6.4%). Twenty percent of patients reported capillary hypoglycemia, with two severe events. A shorter duration of diabetes, absence of corticotherapy and absence of hypoglycemia during the follow-up period were independent predictors for a 1% reduction in three-months HbA1c. CONCLUSION: In patients whose treatment is changed on hospital discharge, a program allowing frequent treatment adjustment would improve HbA1c levels. These results could help to organize health resources more rationally.
Subject(s)
Aftercare/methods , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Hospitalization , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism , Humans , Hyperglycemia/epidemiology , Hypoglycemia/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Discharge , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTO: Ante la mayor tasa de hospitalizaciones de los pacientes con diabetes (DM), se recomienda aprovechar el momento del alta hospitalaria para optimizar su tratamiento ambulatorio. Evaluamos un protocolo de seguimiento tras el alta hospitalaria de pacientes con DM para conocer la evolución del control glucémico. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se recogieron de forma retrospectiva datos de los 375 pacientes diabéticos incluidos en el protocolo, basado en optimización del tratamiento previo, seguimiento telefónico con ajuste terapéutico intermedio durante tres meses y consulta presencial al final del periodo. Se estudiaron factores potencialmente relacionados con una disminución del 1% en la HbA1c final mediante regresión logística. RESULTADOS: El 73% de los pacientes incluidos completaron el seguimiento, recibiendo una media de 4,6 llamadas. Globalmente, la HbA1c se redujo significativamente a los tres meses respecto a la inicial (de 8,62 a 7,19%); los mayores descensos se observaron en pacientes con hiperglucemia por mal control metabólico previo (de 9,85 a 7,65%), hiperglucemia combinada (de 9,32 a 7,31%) y debut (de 8,29 a 6,36%). El 20,5 % de los pacientes presentaron hipoglucemia capilar, en dos casos grave. Un menor tiempo de evolución de la DM, la no necesidad de corticoterapia y la ausencia de hipoglucemias en el seguimiento fueron predictores independientes de una reducción de 1% en la HbA1c a los tres meses. CONCLUSIÓN: Un protocolo de seguimiento mediante contacto telefónico de pacientes con DM con cambios de tratamiento al alta hospitalaria, permite el ajuste frecuente de la dosis y mejora los niveles de HbA1c, lo que podría ayudar a distribuir los recursos asistenciales de forma más racional
BACKGROUND: Given the higher rate of hospital admissions among diabetic patients, discharge should be used to optimize outpatient treatment. We evaluate a follow-up program for diabetic patients after hospital discharge to determine the evolution of glycemic control. METHOD: Retrospective collection of data on 375 diabetic patients enrolled in the follow-up program for optimization treatment: telephonic follow-up where treatment was adjusted if needed; and three months after discharge an in-person consultation was scheduled. Factors potentially associated with a 1% improvement in HbA1c were studied by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of enrolled patients completed the follow-up program; each patient received an average of 4.6 phone calls. Globally, basal mean HbA1c was significantly lower three months later regarding the initial value (8.6 vs. 7.2%); the most relevant lowering was found in the group of hyper-glycemia by poor metabolic control (from 9.9 to 7.7%), combined hyperglycemia (from 9.3 to 7.3%) and debut (from 8.3 to 6.4%). Twenty percent of patients reported capillary hypoglycemia, with two severe events. A shorter duration of diabetes, absence of corticotherapy and absence of hypoglycemia during the follow-up period were independent predictors for a 1% reduction in three-months HbA1c. CONCLUSION: In patients whose treatment is changed on hospital discharge, a program allowing frequent treatment adjustment would improve HbA1c levels. These results could help to organize health resources more rationally
