Does proactive care in care homes improve survival? A quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND: NHS England's 'Enhanced Health in Care Homes' specification aims to make the healthcare of care home residents more proactive. Primary care networks (PCNs) are contracted to provide this, but approaches vary widely: challenges include frailty identification, multidisciplinary team (MDT) capability/capacity and how the process is structured and delivered. AIM: To determine whether a proactive healthcare model could improve healthcare outcomes for care home residents. DESIGN AND SETTING: Quality improvement project involving 429 residents in 40 care homes in a non-randomised crossover cohort design. The headline outcome was 2-year survival. METHOD: All care home residents had healthcare coordinated by the PCN's Older Peoples' Hub. A daily MDT managed the urgent healthcare needs of residents. Proactive healthcare, comprising information technology-assisted comprehensive geriatric assessment (i-CGA) and advanced care planning (ACP), were completed by residents, with prioritisation based on clinical needs.Time-dependent Cox regression analysis was used with patients divided into two groups:Control group: received routine and urgent (reactive) care only.Intervention group: additional proactive i-CGA and ACP. RESULTS: By 2 years, control group survival was 8.6% (n=108), compared with 48.1% in the intervention group (n=321), p<0.001. This represented a 39.6% absolute risk reduction in mortality, 70.2% relative risk reduction and the number needed to treat of 2.5, with little changes when adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: A PCN with an MDT-hub offering additional proactive care (with an i-CGA and ACP) in addition to routine and urgent/reactive care may improve the 2-year survival in older people compared with urgent/reactive care alone.

Type 1 diabetes and frailty: A scoping review.

AIMS: Advances in type 1 diabetes management are enabling more to reach older ages. Frailty is known to complicate type 2 diabetes. However, frailty in people with type 1 diabetes has not been extensively researched. This review summarises the available evidence on frailty in those with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was applied to multiple databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane) including grey literature (Scopus, OAIster, OpenGrey, dissertation and thesis database). All evidence types were considered. English articles published after 2001 were eligible. For inclusion, participants must have been over 55 with type 1 diabetes. Frailty must have been clearly defined or assessed. The results were synthesised into a descriptive format to identify key themes. RESULTS: Of 233 papers subject to full-text review, 23 were included. Older adult diabetes research frequently does not specify the type of diabetes; 100 articles were excluded for this reason. No articles were found specifically researching frailty in older adults with type 1 diabetes. Fourteen different definitions and nine assessments of frailty were outlined. Generally, the papers supported relaxation of glucose targets and greater adoption of diabetes technology. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the paucity of evidence in older adults with type 1 diabetes and frailty. Consensus on standardised definitions and assessments of frailty would aid future research, which is urgently needed as more people with type 1 diabetes reach older ages. Identifying and addressing the key issues in this population is vital to support individuals through the challenges of ageing.

IT-assisted comprehensive geriatric assessment for residents in care homes: quasi-experimental longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty interventions such as Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) can provide significant benefits for older adults living with frailty. However, incorporating such proactive interventions into primary care remains a challenge. We developed an IT-assisted CGA (i-CGA) process, which includes advance care planning (ACP). We assessed if, in older care home residents, particularly those with severe frailty, i-CGA could improve access to advance care planning discussions and reduce unplanned hospitalisations. METHOD: As a quality improvement project we progressively incorporated our i-CGA process into routine primary care for older care home residents, and used a quasi-experimental approach to assess its interim impact. Residents were assessed for frailty by General Practitioners. Proactive i-CGAs were completed, including consideration of traditional CGA domains, deprescribing and ACP discussions. Interim analysis was conducted at 1 year: documented completion, preferences and adherence to ACPs, unplanned hospital admissions, and mortality rates were compared for i-CGA and control (usual care) groups, 1-year post-i-CGA or post-frailty diagnosis respectively. Documented ACP preferences and place of death were compared using the Chi-Square Test. Unplanned hospital admissions and bed days were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: At one year, the i-CGA group comprised 196 residents (severe frailty 111, 57%); the control group 100 (severe frailty 56, 56%). ACP was documented in 100% of the i-CGA group, vs. 72% of control group, p < 0.0001. 85% (94/111) of severely frail i-CGA residents preferred not to be hospitalised if they became acutely unwell. For those with severe frailty, mean unplanned admissions in the control (usual care) group increased from 0.87 (95% confidence interval ± 0.25) per person year alive to 2.05 ± 1.37, while in the i-CGA group they fell from 0.86 ± 0.24 to 0.68 ± 0.37, p = 0.22. Preferred place of death was largely adhered to in both groups, where documented. Of those with severe frailty, 55% (62/111) of the i-CGA group died, vs. 77% (43/56) of the control group, p = 0.0013. CONCLUSIONS: Proactive, community-based i-CGA can improve documentation of care home residents' ACP preferences, and may reduce unplanned hospital admissions. In severely frail residents, a mortality reduction was seen in those who received an i-CGA.

Type 2 diabetes exacerbates changes in blood pressure-independent arterial stiffness: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the SUMMIT study.

Greater central artery stiffness is observed in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Elevated blood pressure (BP) and altered arterial wall structure/composition in T2DM are generally considered as main drivers for this alteration. However, because conventional arterial stiffness measures are BP-dependent and as such an influence of BP remains in a measure, it is unclear if greater central artery stiffness is a function of greater BP, or due to changes in the structure and composition of the arterial wall. We aimed to measure BP-independent arterial stiffness (ß0) cross-sectionally and longitudinally in T2DM. We studied 753 adults with T2DM (DM+) and 436 adults without (DM-) at baseline (Phase 1), and 310 DM+ and 210 DM- adults at 3-yr follow-up (Phase 2). We measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and used it to calculate ß0. In Phase 1, ß0 was significantly greater in DM+ than DM- after adjusting for age and sex [27.5 (26.6-28.3) vs. 23.6 (22.4-24.8) au, P < 0.001]. Partial correlation analyses after controlling for age and sex showed that ß0 was significantly associated with hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.15 P < 0.001) and heart rate [(HR): r = 0.23 P < 0.001)] in DM+. In Phase 2, percentage-change in ß0 was significantly greater in DM+ than DM- [19.5 (14.9-24.0) vs. 5.0 (-0.6 to 10.6) %, P < 0.001] after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline ß0. ß0 was greater in DM+ than DM- and increased much more in DM+ than in DM- over 3 yr. This suggests that T2DM exacerbates BP-independent arterial stiffness and may have a complemental utility to existing arterial stiffness indices.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate in this study a greater BP-independent arterial stiffness ß0 in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) compared to those without, and also a greater change in ß0 over 3 yr in people with T2DM than those without. These findings suggest that the intrinsic properties of the arterial wall may change in a different and more detrimental way in people with T2DM and likely represents accumulation of cardiovascular risk.

Diminished Physical Activity in Older Hospitalised Patients with and without COVID-19.

Acute viral respiratory infections have proven to be a major health threat, even after the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to check whether the presence or absence of an acute respiratory infection such as COVID-19 can influence the physical activity of older hospitalised patients. We cross-sectionally studied patients aged ≥60 years, hospitalized during the pandemic in the non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 ward at the University Hospital, Kraków, Poland. Using activPAL3® technology, we assessed physical activity for 24 h upon admission and discharge. In addition, we applied the sarcopenia screening tool (SARC-F); measured the hand grip strength and calf circumference; and assessed the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), age-adjusted Charlson Index, SpO2%, and length of stay (LoS). Data were analysed using SAS 9.4. The mean (min, max) age of the 31 (58% women, eight with COVID-19) consecutive patients was 79.0 (62, 101, respectively) years. The daily time (activPAL3®, median [p5, p95], in hours) spent sitting or reclining was 23.7 [17.2, 24] upon admission and 23.5 [17.8, 24] at discharge. The time spent standing was 0.23 [0.0, 5.0] upon admission and 0.4 [0.0, 4.6] at discharge. The corresponding values for walking were 0.0 [0.0, 0.4] and 0.1 [0.0, 0.5]. SARC-F, admission hand grip strength, calf circumference, and LoS were correlated with physical activity upon admission and discharge (all p < 0.04). For every unit increase in SARC-F, there was a 0.07 h shorter walking time upon discharge. None of the above results differed between patients with and without COVID-19. The level of physical activity in older patients hospitalised during the pandemic was low, and was dependent on muscular function upon admission but not on COVID-19 status. This has ramifications for scenarios other than pandemic clinical scenarios.

Performance of the SarQoL quality of life tool in a UK population of older people with probable sarcopenia and implications for use in clinical trials: findings from the SarcNet registry.

BACKGROUND: The Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire is a disease-specific sarcopenia quality of life tool. We aimed to independently assess SarQoL with a particular focus on its suitability as a clinical trial outcome measure. METHODS: We analysed data from the UK Sarcopenia Network and Registry. Measures of physical performance and lean mass were collected at baseline. SarQoL and the Strength, Assistance, Rise, Climb - Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire (to assess functional ability) were collected at both baseline and six-month follow-up. Global changes in fitness and quality of life at 6 months were elicited on seven-point Likert scales. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Responsiveness (Cohen's d and Guyatt coefficients) and minimum clinically important differences were calculated for participants reporting slight improvement or worsening in their global scores. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating baseline SarQoL scores with measures of physical performance and functional ability. RESULTS: We analysed data from 147 participants, 125 of whom underwent follow up assessment; mean age 78 years; 72 (49%) were women. Internal consistency was good; Cronbach's alpha was 0.944 at baseline and 0.732 at telephone follow-up. Correlation between baseline and follow-up SarQoL was weak (r = 0.27; p = 0.03). The minimum clinically important improvement ranged from 5 to 21 points giving trial sample size estimates of 25-100 participants. SarQoL scores were moderately correlated with handgrip (r = 0.37; p < 0.001), SARC-F (r = - 0.45; p < 0.001), short physical performance battery (r = 0.48; p < 0.001) and 4-m walk speed (r = 0.48; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SarQoL has acceptable performance in older UK participants with probable sarcopenia and is sufficiently responsive for use in clinical trials for sarcopenia.

Acute sarcopenia changes following hospitalization: influence of pre-admission care dependency level.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalization is associated with acute changes in sarcopenia status in older people, but the influencing factors are not fully understood. Pre-admission care dependency level as a risk factor has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate if pre-admission care dependency level is an independent predictor of sarcopenia changes following hospitalization. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Data came from the Sarcopenia 9+ EAMA Project, a European prospective multi-centre study. For this study, 227 hospitalised older people were included from four different hospitals in Belgium, Spain and Poland, between 18 February 2019 and 5 September 2020. METHODS: Sarcopenia status at admission and discharge were calculated using a combined score (desirability value) based on muscle mass (calf circumference), strength (grip) and function (walking speed). Ratio of admission to discharge status was the outcome (desirability ratio; 1.00 meaning no difference). Predictor variable was the pre-admission care dependency level, classified into three groups: independent older people living at home, dependent older people living at home and older people living in a care home. Linear regression models were applied, considering potential confounders. RESULTS: Mean desirability ratio for dependent older people living at home ('middle dependent group') was lower (0.89) compared to independent older people (0.98; regression coefficient -0.09 [95% CI -0.16, -0.02]) and care home patients (1.05; -0.16 [95% CI -0.01, -0.31]). Adjusting for potential confounders or using another statistical approach did not affect the main results. CONCLUSION: Dependent older people living at home were at higher risk of deterioration in sarcopenia status following hospitalization. In-depth studies investigating causes and potential interventions of these findings are needed.

Developing a UK sarcopenia registry: recruitment and baseline characteristics of the SarcNet pilot.

BACKGROUND: sarcopenia registries are a potential method to meet the challenge of recruitment to sarcopenia trials. We tested the feasibility of setting up a UK sarcopenia registry, the feasibility of recruitment methods and sought to characterise the pilot registry population. METHODS: six diverse UK sites took part, with potential participants aged 65 and over approached via mailshots from local primary care practices. Telephone pre-screening using the SARC-F score was followed by in-person screening and baseline visit. Co-morbidities, medications, grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, bioimpedance analysis, Geriatric Depression Score, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Sarcopenia Quality of Life score were performed and permission sought for future recontact. Descriptive statistics for recruitment rates and baseline measures were generated; an embedded randomised trial examined the effect of a University logo on the primary care mailshot on recruitment rates. RESULTS: sixteen practices contributed a total of 3,508 letters. In total, 428 replies were received (12% response rate); 380 underwent telephone pre-screening of whom 215 (57%) were eligible to attend a screening visit; 150 participants were recruited (40% of those pre-screened) with 147 contributing baseline data. No significant difference was seen in response rates between mailshots with and without the logo (between-group difference 1.1% [95% confidence interval -1.0% to 3.4%], P = 0.31). The mean age of enrollees was 78 years; 72 (49%) were women. In total, 138/147 (94%) had probable sarcopenia on European Working Group on Sarcopenia 2019 criteria and 145/147 (98%) agreed to be recontacted about future studies. CONCLUSION: recruitment to a multisite UK sarcopenia registry is feasible, with high levels of consent for recontact.

Unmet needs, health policies, and actions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a report from six European countries.

PURPOSE: The United Nations (UN) has published a Policy Brief on the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that identifies policies and responses to protect older adults. Our objective was to summarize actions, health policies and clinical guidelines adopted by six European countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and United Kingdom) during the pandemic, and to assess the impact of national policies on reducing adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in older populations. METHODS: Reports by geriatricians on the measures and actions undertaken by governmental institutions in each country between March and July 2020, as well as the role of primary care during the pandemic, covered three areas: (a) general health strategies related to the pandemic; (b) impact of COVID-19 on health inequity; and (c) initiatives and challenges for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. RESULTS: In the six countries, COVID-19 mortality in nursing homes ranged from 26 to 66%. Although all countries endorsed the World Health Organization general recommendations, the reports identified the lack of harmonized European guidelines and policies for nursing homes, with competencies transferred to national (or regional) governments. All countries restricted visits in nursing homes, but no specific action plans were provided. The role of primary care was limited by the centralization of the crisis in hospital settings. CONCLUSIONS: The older population has been greatly affected by COVID-19 and by the policies initiated to control its spread. The right to health and dignity are transgenerational; chronological age should not be the sole criterion in policy decisions.

Knowledge, skills and attitudes of older people and staff about getting up from the floor following a fall: a qualitative investigation.

BACKGROUND: Falls are the most common reason for ambulance callouts resulting in non-conveyance. Even in the absence of injury, only half of those who fall can get themselves up off the floor, often remaining there over an hour, increasing risk of complications. There are recognized techniques for older people to learn how to get up after a fall, but these are rarely taught. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of attitudes of older people, carers and health professionals on getting up following a fall. METHODS: A qualitative focus group and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 participants, including community-dwelling older people with experience of a non-injurious fall, carers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics and first responders. Data were transcribed and analysed systematically using the Framework approach. A stakeholder group of falls experts and service users advised during analysis. RESULTS: The data highlighted three areas contributing to an individual's capability to get-up following a fall: the environment (physical and social); physical ability; and degree of self-efficacy (attitude and beliefs about their own ability). These factors fell within the wider context of making a decision about needing help, which included what training and knowledge each person already had to manage their fall response. Staff described how they balance their responsibilities, prioritising the individual's immediate needs; this leaves limited time to address capability in the aforementioned three areas. Paramedics, routinely responding to falls, only receive training on getting-up techniques from within their peer-group. Therapists are aware of the skillset to breakdown the getting-up process, but, with limited time, select who to teach these techniques to. CONCLUSION: Neither therapists nor ambulance service staff routinely teach strategies on how to get up, meaning that healthcare professionals largely have a reactive role in managing falls. Interventions that address the environment, physical ability and self-efficacy could positively impact on peoples' capability to get up following a fall. Therefore, a more proactive approach would be to teach people techniques to manage these aspects of future falls and to provide them easily accessible information.

EuGMS 2019 Congress report: evidence-based medicine in geriatrics.

The 2019 EuGMS Congress "Evidence-Based Medicine in Geriatrics" was held in Krakow, Poland, and attended by over 1600 participants from 64 different countries. A summary and reflection on the congress was presented in the Closing Ceremony by European Academy for Medicine of Aging graduates, and summarised in this article. Keynote lectures, 'state of the art' sessions and symposia presented the evidence relating to different age-related conditions, their prevention, management and treatments. Hot topic areas included frailty and multimorbidity, and evidence-based attempts to address these conditions at different life stages. The field of geriatrics represents unique challenges for evidence-based medicine practice. There is much research going on. Clear leadership is needed to facilitate consensus agreements on standard definitions, methods and relevant outcomes, in collaboration with older people themselves, to maximise the opportunities and benefits of doing this research, and benefiting our patients and society at large.

The Pathfields Tool: a frailty case-finding tool using primary care IT-implications for population health management.

BACKGROUND: older people living with frailty benefit from targeted interventions which improve health and independence. However, it has been challenging within primary care to systematically identify patients living with frailty. METHODS: primary care IT was re-programmed to create a 'Pathfields High Risk Cohort' (PHRC, patients felt likely to have undiagnosed frailty) and invite clinicians to opportunistically assess and diagnose frailty. Results were compared with NHS England's current approach to frailty identification using Electronic Frailty Index (eFI) to see which approach had the highest diagnostic yield. RESULTS: the Pathfields Tool identified 1,348 patients in PHRC group, of whom 951 (70.5%) were clinically assessed and diagnosed:eFI (moderate and severe) identified 683 patients of whom 598 (87.6%) were clinically assessed and diagnosed:Extrapolated data would estimate frailty prevalence at 22.5% (1,024/4,552) (5.5% severe, 8.8% moderate, and 8.1% mild) in the practice population aged 65+. CONCLUSIONS: the Pathfields Tool identified more patients with clinically confirmed previously undiagnosed frailty than eFI 'moderate and severe frailty' alone.Sub-segmenting frailty by residential status could significantly improve the population health management of older people.

European Academy for medicine of ageing session participants' report on malnutrition assessment and diagnostic methods; an international survey.

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases are associated with hospital admissions, disability, institutionalization, and mortality in older people. Specialists in Geriatric Medicine and nutrition evaluate nutritional status as part of the comprehensive geriatric assessment; however, malnutrition still remains under-recognized and under-managed. Our survey explored nutrition assessment approaches used in daily clinical practice by geriatricians across Europe. METHODS: A 19-item survey on methods and instruments for malnutrition assessment in geriatric settings, and details of any national guidelines, was sent to 40 postgraduate fellows of the European Academy of Medicine of Aging (EAMA, 2017-2019 class). RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 40 eligible EAMA participants, representing 14 European countries, responded. In clinical practice, MNA and MNA-SF were most frequently used for screening (44.1%, 52.9%, respectively) and diagnosing (45.7%, 40.0%) malnutrition. Weight loss (n = 36, 100%), body mass index (n = 30, 85.7%), and low energy/food intake (n = 27, 77.1%) were the most frequent clinical variables considered. The absolute and relative amount of weight loss, and over what time period, varied widely. These routinely considered clinical factors contribute to validated GLIM, ASPEN-AND and ESPEN criteria for diagnosis of malnutrition, but these criteria were seldom used (GLIM = 0%, ASPEN = 0%; n = 9, ESPEN = 25.7%). National guidelines were available in 9 of the 14 countries, and generally recommended MNA and MNA-SF for community-dwelling and hospitalized older patients. Albumin was often suggested as a nutritional marker. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional assessment is systematically performed in geriatrics; but differs widely among geriatricians and countries. Harmonizing guidelines with the new international consensus might provide best-evidence care for older people across Europe.

Intravascular lymphoma presenting with postural hypotension.

An 84-year-old woman presented with severe postural hypotension. Further assessment revealed weight loss, fatigue and fever at night. On examination, she had bilateral skin lesions on the inner thighs and skin biopsy revealed intravascular high grade B cell lymphoma. This was successfully treated with curative chemotherapy. The cause of the postural hypotension in this case was felt likely to be autonomic neuropathy caused by neurovascular infiltration by intravascular lymphoma. Treatment of the lymphoma has resolved the postural hypotension, although some symptoms of postural instability persist.

Are we missing hypoglycaemia? Elderly patients with insulin-treated diabetes present to primary care frequently with non-specific symptoms associated with hypoglycaemia.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed if patients with known hypoglycaemia present on other occasions with non-specific symptoms associated with (but not diagnosed as) hypoglycaemia, potentially representing missed hypoglycaemia. METHODS: 335 primary care records (5/2/12-4/2/13) from patients aged >65 (79 on insulin, 85 on sulphonylureas, 121 on metformin only, 50 without diabetes) were assessed for hypoglycaemia episodes and consultations with non-specific symptoms, "hypo clues". RESULTS: 27/79(34%) insulin-treated patients had >1 documented hypoglycaemia episode, compared to 4/85(5%) sulphonylurea-treated patients, 2/121(2%) metformin-only treated patients, and none without diabetes, p<0.001. "Hypo clue" consultations were common: 1.37 consultations/patient/year in insulin-treated patients, 0.98/patient/year in sulphonylurea-treated, 0.97/patient/year in metformin only-treated, and 0.78/patient/year in non-diabetic patients, p=0.34. In insulin-treated patients with documented hypoglycaemia, 20/27(74%) attended on another occasion with a "hypo clue" symptom, compared to 21/52(40%) of those without hypoglycaemia, p=0.008. No significant difference in the other treatment groups. Nausea, falls and unsteadiness were the most discriminatory symptoms: 7/33(21%) with hypoglycaemia attended on another occasion with nausea compared to 14/302(5%) without hypoglycaemia, p=0.002; 10/33(30%) vs 36/302(12%) with falls, p=0.007; and 5/33(15%) vs 13/302(4%) with unsteadiness, p=0.023. CONCLUSIONS: Non-specific symptoms are common in those >65 years. In insulin-treated patients at high hypoglycaemia risk, nausea, falls and unsteadiness should prompt consideration of hypoglycaemia.

Ambulance clinicians' perceptions, assessment and management of frailty: thematic analysis of focus groups.

INTRODUCTION: More than half of all patients attended by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust are over the age of 65. In 2017, 62% of older patients who were the subject of a frailty assessment were believed to have at least mild frailty (1/5 of all patients). Frailty is an increasingly relevant concept/diagnosis and ambulance services are well positioned to identify frailty and influence the 'care pathways' through which patients are directed (thereby influencing health outcomes). Throughout the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, a mandatory training session regarding frailty was delivered to clinical personnel in 2017 and frailty assessment tools are available on the electronic Patient Clinical Record. AIM: To explore and gain insight into the current knowledge, practice and attitudes of ambulance clinicians regarding frailty and patients with frailty. METHODS: Two focus groups of ambulance clinicians (n = 8; n = 9) recruited from across the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust were held in October 2017. Focus group discussions were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Knowledge of conceptual models of frailty, appropriate assessment of patients with frailty and appropriate care pathways varied substantially among focus group participants. Completion of the 'Rockwood' Clinical Frailty Scale for relevant patients has become routine. However, conflicting opinions were expressed regarding the context and purpose of this. The Timed-Up-and-Go mobility assessment tool is also on the electronic Patient Clinical Record, but difficulties regarding its completion were expressed.Patient management strategies ranged from treatment options which the ambulance service can provide, to referrals to primary/community care which can support the management of patients in their homes, and options to refer patients directly to hospital units or specialists with the aim of facilitating appropriate assessment, treatment and discharge. Perceptions of limited availability and geographical variability regarding these referral pathways was a major feature of the discussions, raising questions regarding awareness, capacity, inter-professional relationships and patient choice. CONCLUSION: Knowledge, practice and attitudes of ambulance staff, with regard to frailty, varied widely. This reflected the emerging nature of the condition, both academically and clinically, within the ambulance profession and the wider healthcare system.

Random non-fasting C-peptide testing can identify patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes at high risk of hypoglycaemia.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to determine whether random non-fasting C-peptide (rCP) measurement can be used to assess hypoglycaemia risk in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We compared continuous glucose monitoring-assessed SD of blood glucose and hypoglycaemia duration in 17 patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and severe insulin deficiency (rCP < 200 pmol/l) and 17 matched insulin-treated control patients with type 2 diabetes but who had preserved endogenous insulin (rCP > 600 pmol/l). We then assessed the relationship between rCP and questionnaire-based measures of hypoglycaemia in 256 patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and a comparison group of 209 individuals with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-assessed glucose variability and hypoglycaemia was greater in individuals with rCP < 200 pmol/l despite similar mean glucose. In those with low vs high C-peptide, SD of glucose was 4.2 (95% CI 3.7, 4.6) vs 3.0 (2.6, 3.4) mmol/l (p < 0.001). In the low-C-peptide vs high-C-peptide group, the proportion of individuals experiencing sustained hypoglycaemia ≤ 4 mmol/l was 94% vs 41% (p < 0.001), the mean rate of hypoglycaemia was 5.5 (4.4, 6.7) vs 2.1 (1.4, 2.9) episodes per person per week (p = 0.004) and the mean duration was 630 (619, 643) vs 223 (216, 230) min per person per week (p = 0.01). Hypoglycaemia ≤ 3 mmol/l was infrequent in individuals with preserved C-peptide (1.8 [1.2, 2.6] episodes per person per week vs 0.4 [0.1, 0.8] episodes per person per week for low vs high C-peptide, p = 0.04) and only occurred at night. In a population-based cohort with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, self-reported hypoglycaemia was twice as frequent in those with rCP < 200 pmol/l (OR 2.0, p < 0.001) and the rate of episodes resulting in loss of consciousness or seizure was five times higher (OR 5.0, p = 0.001). The relationship between self-reported hypoglycaemia and C-peptide was similar in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Low rCP is associated with increased glucose variability and hypoglycaemia in patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and represents a practical, stable and inexpensive biomarker for assessment of hypoglycaemia risk.