IntroductionThe purpose of this prospective observational cohort study was to examine sex differences in glycemic measures, diabetes-related complications, and rates of postdischarge emergency room (ER) visits and hospital readmissions in non-critically ill, hospitalized patients with diabetes.Research design and methodsDemographic data including age, body mass index, race, blood pressure, reason for admission, diabetes medications at admission and discharge, diabetes-related complications, laboratory data (hematocrit, creatinine, hemoglobin A1c, point-of-care blood glucose measures), length of stay (LOS), and discharge disposition were collected. Patients were followed for 90 days following hospital discharge to obtain information regarding ER visits and readmissions.Results120 men and 100 women consented to participate in this study. There were no sex differences in patient demographics, diabetes duration or complications, or LOS. No differences were observed in the percentage of men and women with an ER visit or hospital readmission within 30 (39% vs 33%, p=0.40) or 90 (60% vs 49%, p=0.12) days of hospital discharge. More men than women experienced hypoglycemia prior to discharge (18% vs 8%, p=0.026). More women were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (p=0.007).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that men and women hospitalized with an underlying diagnosis of diabetes have similar preadmission glycemic measures, diabetes duration, and prevalence of diabetes complications. More men experienced hypoglycemia prior to discharge. Women were less likely to be discharged to home. Approximately 50% of men and women had ER visits or readmissions within 90 days of hospital discharge.Trial registration numberNCT03279627.
Diabetes (DM) is a major contributor to risk for hospital readmission. The Diabetes Early Readmission Risk Indicator (DERRI) is a predictor of 30-day readmission in patients with DM that may allow early identification and intervention for high-risk patients. A limitation to DERRI is the absence of DM-specific factors as contributors to this risk. To address this, we investigated HbA1c, glycemic measures and variability (GV), changes in DM therapy at discharge, and patient responses to a novel post-discharge questionnaire directed at Patient Comprehension (PC) of instructions provided for home DM management. Non-critically ill adult patients with DM were contacted by phone within 48 hours of hospital discharge to complete the PC Questionnaire. To date, 70 subjects (type 1 n=9, type 2 n=53, pancreatogenic DM n=8) (mean age 57.2 ± 12.8 years, BMI 31 ± 8.8 kg/m2, 56% men, 71% Caucasian, HbA1c 8.6 ± 2.0%, DM duration 19 ± 12 years, mean BG prior to discharge (210 ± 49 mg/dL), GV (66 ± 35 mg/dl) have been recruited. Of 41 subjects completing the PC questionnaire, those reporting that discharge instructions for home DM management were not provided had lower PC scores (70.6% vs. 81.5%, p=0.025) and more readmissions (OR 5.6, p=0.04) than those reporting that instructions were given. Among the 60 subjects with one-month post-discharge data, 22 patients (37%) reporting ≥1 readmission had higher DERRI scores than those without readmissions (26% vs. 20%, p=0.023). HbA1c, GV and changes in DM treatment regimens were not associated with readmission. In summary, these results demonstrate that PC of discharge instructions may be a novel mediator of readmission risk and may add an additional measure of risk for hospital readmission. Disclosure J. Swami: None. A. Donihi: None. E. Karslioglu French: None. K. Delisi: None. D.S. Hlasnik: None. N. Patel: None. D. Pinkhasova: None. D.J. Rubin: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. M.T. Korytkowski: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc.. Other Relationship; Self; JAEB Center For Health Research.
Hospitalized patients with DM are at high risk for early readmission. Improving inpatient education and discharge (DC) processes are proposed interventions for reducing this risk. We examined the contribution of blood glucose (BG) 48 hr prior to DC (nadir, peak, STD, CV) and patient comprehension (PC) of instructions for home DM management following DC to risk for 30d readmission. Insulin treated non-critically ill patients with DM (N=202) were recruited. Diabetes Early Readmission Risk Indicators (DERRI) were calculated for each participant, who were contacted within 48 hr of DC to complete a PC Questionnaire (PCQ). Of 126 participants [age mean (STD) 61(12) years, BMI 32.9 (9.6) kg/m2, A1c 8.0 (2.2%), 45% women, 22% black, 85% type 2DM] who completed the PCQ, 42 (33%) required clarification of misunderstood DC instructions. PC scores were negatively correlated with BG STD (-0.17, 95% CI:-0.32,-0.02) and CV (-0.38, -0.7, -0.05). There was no difference in median (25ile, 75ile) PC scores between patients with and without 30d readmission (79 (67, 93%) vs.83 (71,100%), p=0.19); however, there were more readmissions in those with PC scores <100% compared to scores of 100% (n = 34) (29% vs. 15%, OR=2.4, 95% CI: 0.83, 6.88). Among all 202 participants, median DERRI scores were higher in the 25% with 30d readmission (27 (24, 30)) than those without (19 (20, 24), p = 0.002). In summary, these results demonstrate deficiencies in the hospital DC process as demonstrated by the need for clarification of information in >30% of patients following DC. It is possible that this corrected information may have served as an intervention to reduce readmission risk. PC scores were negatively associated with glycemic variability preceding DC and scores <100% were associated with a higher risk for readmission. DERRI scores were strongly associated with risk for 30d readmissions, representing the first prospective external validation of this tool. These results support proposals to improve the DC process and post-DC follow-up of patients with DM. Disclosure D. Pinkhasova: None. J. Swami: None. N. Patel: None. A. Donihi: None. L.M. Siminerio: None. E. Karslioglu French: None. K. Delisi: None. D.S. Hlasnik: None. D.J. Rubin: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. M.T. Korytkowski: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (UL1-TR-001857)
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