Incidence of Hypoglycemia and Hospitalization Related to Chronic Diabetes Complications and Its Effect on Quality of Life Among Patients Initiating Second Line Therapy: DISCOVER Study

Abstract

The management of patients with type 2 diabetes is a complex process that must be individualized and be patient centered. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic control, the annual incidence and crude prevalence of hypoglycemia, hospitalization, and complications among patients with type 2 diabetes initiating second-line therapy. This study is an observational, longitudinal, prospective study as a part of the multinational DISCOVERing Treatment Reality of Type 2 Diabetes in Real World Settings (DISCOVER) study, that recruited 519 patients with type 2 diabetes who were non-insulin users, aged ≥18 years, and switching to second-line therapy. The cohort was clinically evaluated over three years of follow up. Fear of hypoglycemia was assessed using the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS II), while the quality of life was assessed using SF36v2 questionnaire. Using second-line therapy improved metabolic control but the annual incidence of microangiopathies were at 61/1000 patient-years, 47/1000 patient-years, and 4/1000 patient-years for neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy, respectively. The incidence of hypoglycemia was 57/1000 patient-years, where 50% were recurrent during the three-years period. The HFS II showed a significant increase in patients’ worries related to hypoglycemia. The incidence of hospitalization was 31/1000 patient-years, out of which 8/1000 patient-years were related to cardiovascular events, mainly myocardial infarction. Moderate metabolic control was associated with lower incidence of macro angiopathy and an increased incidence and fear of hypoglycemia, while it was associated with improved mental component score when assessing the patients’ quality of life. The treating physician’s decision of treatment intensification should be individualized with consideration of befits of good glycemic control versus the risk of hypoglycemia, especially in elderly patients.