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.
Keywords: Boosted regression tree model; Elderly; Hospitalization; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Sulfonylurea.