Health risk appraisal for older people 4: case finding for hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus in older people in English general practice before the introduction of the Quality and Outcomes Framework

Early intervention can help to reduce the burden of disability in the older population, but many do not access preventive care. There is uncertainty over what factors influence case finding in older patients in general practice.

Estimating the prevalence of comorbid conditions and their effect on health care costs in patients with diabetes mellitus in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND Estimating the prevalence of comorbidities and their associated costs in patients with diabetes is fundamental to optimizing health care management. This study assesses the prevalence and health care costs of comorbid conditions among patients with diabetes compared with patients without diabetes. Distinguishing potentially diabetes- and nondiabetes-related comorbidities in patients with diabetes, we also determined the most frequent chronic conditions and estimated their effect on costs across different health care settings in Switzerland. METHODS Using health care claims data from 2011, we calculated the prevalence and average health care costs of comorbidities among patients with and without diabetes in inpatient and outpatient settings. Patients with diabetes and comorbid conditions were identified using pharmacy-based cost groups. Generalized linear models with negative binomial distribution were used to analyze the effect of comorbidities on health care costs. RESULTS A total of 932,612 persons, including 50,751 patients with diabetes, were enrolled. The most frequent potentially diabetes- and nondiabetes-related comorbidities in patients older than 64 years were cardiovascular diseases (91%), rheumatologic conditions (55%), and hyperlipidemia (53%). The mean total health care costs for diabetes patients varied substantially by comorbidity status (US$3,203-$14,223). Patients with diabetes and more than two comorbidities incurred US$10,584 higher total costs than patients without comorbidity. Costs were significantly higher in patients with diabetes and comorbid cardiovascular disease (US$4,788), hyperlipidemia (US$2,163), hyperacidity disorders (US$8,753), and pain (US$8,324) compared with in those without the given disease. CONCLUSION Comorbidities in patients with diabetes are highly prevalent and have substantial consequences for medical expenditures. Interestingly, hyperacidity disorders and pain were the most costly conditions. Our findings highlight the importance of developing strategies that meet the needs of patients with diabetes and comorbidities. Integrated diabetes care such as used in the Chronic Care Model may represent a useful strategy.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme-gene-polymorphism: relationship to albumin excretion and blood pressure in pediatric patients with type-I-diabetes mellitus

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of a predictive genetic marker for nephropathy and hypertension in patients with type-I-diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The study was performed on 247 pediatric patients with IDDM. The mean age was 15.5 years (range 3.1-29.3), the mean duration of diabetes was 7.6 years (range 0.1-25.7). Age-related blood pressure and nocturnal albumin excretion rate were compared with the insertion/deletion-(I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme gene. The genotype distribution did not differ significantly between IDDM patients (ID 48%, D 28%, I 24%) and the control group (ID 44%, D 37%, I 19%). Neither in the entire group, nor in patients with IDDM for more than 5 years, was a correlation found bet-ween allele distribution and albumin excretion rate. No correlation was found between genotype and blood pressure. When patients with a chronological age above 12 years were analysed separately, the genotype distribution between the groups with normal and elevated blood pressure showed no significant difference. The previously reported association of the I/D-polymorphism with nephropathy could not be confirmed in this study. The development of microalbuminuria, nephropathy and hypertension will be followed in our pediatric patients.

Metabolic control in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus type I in Berne: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS In diabetes mellitus type I, good glycaemic control is crucial in preventing long-term diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to determine the current level of metabolic control in children and adolescents in our diabetes outpatient clinic at the University Children's Hospital, Berne. Furthermore, the impact of different factors such as age, pubertal stage, sex, duration of diabetes and insulin regimen on glycaemic control was studied. METHODS In a cross-sectional, prospective study 168 children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus (f:m = 87:81; prepubertal 48 [mean age 4.4 years, mean duration of diabetes 2.8 years]; pubertal 120 [mean age 9.4 years; mean duration of diabetes 5.2 years]) were studied for three months. Clinical data and HbA1c levels (latex immunoagglutination test) were recorded, statistically analysed and compared with the international literature. RESULTS In our type I diabetic children and adolescents the overall HbA1c was 8.07 +/- 1.15% (mean +/- SD; test-specific norm for healthy subjects: 4.1-6.1%). Glycaemic control was significantly worse in the pubertal group compared to the prepubertal (HbA1c 8.22 +/- 1.25% vs. 7.81 +/- 0.87%; p < 0.01). In addition, we found better metabolic control in patients with duration of diabetes below 2 years in children and adolescents (HbA1c prepubertal < 2 years: 7.45 +/- 0.67% vs. > 2 years: 8.05 +/- 0.93%, p < 0.05; pubertal < 2 years: 7.62 +/- 0.75% vs. > 2 years: 8.31 +/- 1.29%, p < 0.005). Importantly, sex and insulin regimen did not significantly influence glycaemic control. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION The current level of metabolic control in our children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus type I is comparable to the glycaemic control of the intensively treated adolescent group of the DCCT-study, in whom decreased risk of long-term diabetic complications was found. In contrast, our patients were intensively treated in terms of frequent contacts with the diabetes team, but were not necessarily on an intensified insulin regimen. The impact of biopsychosocial support from multidisciplinary diabetes team on good metabolic control in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus and their families seems to be very important.

Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a decreased risk of incident gout: a population-based case-control study

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the risk of incident gout in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in association with diabetes duration, diabetes severity and antidiabetic drug treatment. METHODS We conducted a case-control study in patients with T2DM using the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). We identified case patients aged ≥18 years with an incident diagnosis of gout between 1990 and 2012. We matched to each case patient one gout-free control patient. We used conditional logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted ORs (adj. ORs) with 95% CIs and adjusted our analyses for important potential confounders. RESULTS The study encompassed 7536 T2DM cases with a first-time diagnosis of gout. Compared to a diabetes duration <1 year, prolonged diabetes duration (1-3, 3-6, 7-9 and ≥10 years) was associated with decreased adj. ORs of 0.91 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.04), 0.76 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.86), 0.70 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.86), and 0.58 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.66), respectively. Compared to a reference A1C level of <7%, the risk estimates of increasing A1C levels (7.0-7.9, 8.0-8.9 and ≥9%) steadily decreased with adj. ORs of 0.79 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.86), 0.63 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.72), and 0.46 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.53), respectively. Neither use of insulin, metformin, nor sulfonylureas was associated with an altered risk of incident gout. CONCLUSIONS Increased A1C levels, but not use of antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a decreased risk of incident gout among patients with T2DM.

Effect of large doses of parenteral vitamin D on glycaemic control and calcium/phosphate metabolism in patients with stable type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomised, placebo-controlled, prospective pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Vitamin D (D₃) status is reported to correlate negatively with insulin production and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, few placebo-controlled intervention data are available. We aimed to assess the effect of large doses of parenteral D3 on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(₁c)) and estimates of insulin action (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance: HOMA-IR) in patients with stable T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study at a single university care setting in Switzerland. Fifty-five patients of both genders with T2DM of more than 10 years were enrolled and randomised to either 300,000 IU D₃ or placebo, intramuscularly. The primary endpoint was the intergroup difference in HbA(₁c) levels. Secondary endpoints were: changes in insulin sensitivity, albuminuria, calcium/phosphate metabolism, activity of the renin-aldosterone axis and changes in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure values. RESULTS After 6 months of D₃ supply, there was a significant intergroup difference in the change in HbA(₁c) levels (relative change [mean ± standard deviation] +2.9% ± 1.5% in the D₃ group vs +6.9% ± 2.1% the in placebo group, p = 0.041) as HOMA-IR decreased by 12.8% ± 5.6% in the D₃ group and increased by 10% ± 5.4% in the placebo group (intergroup difference, p = 0.032). Twenty-four-hour urinary albumin excretion decreased in the D₃ group from 200 ± 41 to 126 ± 39, p = 0.021). There was no significant intergroup difference for the other secondary endpoints. CONCLUSIONS D₃ improved insulin sensitivity (based on HOMA-IR) and affected the course of HbA(₁c) positively compared with placebo in patients with T2DM.

Factors associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in HIV-infected participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons may be at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus because of viral coinfection and adverse effects of treatment. METHODS: We studied associations of new-onset diabetes mellitus with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus coinfections and antiretroviral therapy in participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, using Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 123 of 6513 persons experienced diabetes mellitus during 27,798 person-years of follow-up (PYFU), resulting in an incidence of 4.4 cases per 1000 PYFU (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-5.3 cases per 1000 PYFU). An increased incidence rate ratio (IRR) was found for male subjects (IRR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.2), older age (IRR for subjects >60 years old, 4.3; 95% CI, 2.3-8.2), black (IRR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.0) and Asian (IRR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.2-10.9) ethnicity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disease stage C (IRR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.04-2.4), and obesity (IRR, 4.7; 95% CI, 3.1-7.0), but results for hepatitis C virus infection or active hepatitis B virus infection were inconclusive. Strong associations were found for current treatment with nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (IRR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.11-4.45), nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus protease inhibitors (IRR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.42-4.31), and nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (IRR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.59-6.67) but were not found for treatment with nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (IRR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.77-2.82). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to traditional risk factors, current treatment with protease inhibitor- and nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-containing regimens was associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our study did not find a significant association between viral hepatitis infection and risk of incident diabetes.

Quality of life and coping behaviour in Type 1 diabetes mellitus: relationship with metabolic control

Uncovering factors possibly leading to insufficient metabolic control in Type 1 diabetes, both on the part of the patient or the treating physician, is of considerable relevance. The present long-term study investigated the relevance of patient-related vs education-related factors for the success in achieving acceptable glycaemic control. Adolescents or young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (n= 26, mean age= 22+/-2 yr, diabetes duration= 11+/-5 yr) were followed during 36+/-5 months. All patients were treated by the same diabetologist. At the beginning of the study coping behaviour, quality of life and evaluation of emotional status were assessed. Changes in HbA1c were used as a parameter of glycaemic control. At follow-up there was a significant decrease in HbA1c of 0.4% (p<0.01). However, this was not in statistically significant correlation with age, gender, aspects of quality of life or coping behaviour. Therefore, glycaemic control and/or improvement of glycaemic control in adolescents or young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus seems to be primarily related to other factors, eg continuous education provided in a stable setting.

Persistent microalbuminuria in adolescents with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus is associated to early rather than late puberty. Results of a prospective longitudinal study

Microalbuminuria is generally accepted to be highly predictive of overt diabetic nephropathy which is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure and, consequently, of death in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Its early identification and therapy are exceedingly important. We studied prospectively the occurrence of microalbuminuria (MA) in relation to puberty and its pubertal stages in 164 children and adolescent patients (83 girls and 81 boys) with IDDM. Analysing 100 healthy subjects, normal values for albumin excretion (range: 0-10.1 micrograms/min/1.73 m2) according to sex and the different pubertal stages were defined. No significant difference between the groups were noted and, therefore, 20 micrograms/min per 1.73 m2 (3 SD above the mean) was generally defined as cutoff for MA. Of the patients with IDDM studied, 20% (20 females and 12 males) developed persistent MA (22.1-448.2 micrograms/min/1.73 m2) during the study period of 8 years. The first manifestation of persistent MA was in 69% (13 females and 9 males) during stages of early and midpuberty; and in 28% (6 females and 3 males) at a late pubertal stage or at the end of puberty. The only child who developed MA before the onset of puberty (range: 23.5-157.4 micrograms/min/1.73 m2) was found to have dystopic kidney. Therefore, all patients with IDDM should be screened for MA regardless of diabetes duration, sex and level of diabetes control beginning at the very first stage of puberty and neither earlier nor after puberty as suggested by the American Diabetes Association.

[Role of complementary medicine in type 1 diabetes mellitus in two Swiss centres]

Insulin replacement is the only effective treatment of type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Nevertheless, many complementary treatments are in use for T1DM. In this study we assessed by questionnaire that out of 342 patients with T1DM, 48 (14%; 13.4% adult, 18.5% paediatric; 20 male, 28 female) used complementary medicine (CM) in addition to their insulin therapy. The purpose of the use of CM was to improve general well-being, ameliorate glucose homeostasis, reduce blood glucose levels as well as insulin doses, improve physical fitness, reduce the frequency of hypoglycaemia, and control appetite. The modalities most frequently used are cinnamon, homeopathy, magnesium and special beverages (mainly teas). Thus, good collaboration between health care professionals will allow optimal patient care.

Clinical outcome of patients with and without diabetes mellitus after percutaneous coronary intervention with the resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent: 2-year results from the prospectively pooled analysis of the international global RESOLUTE program

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the process to obtain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the expanded indication for treatment with the Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES) (Medtronic, Inc., Santa Rosa, California) in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes. BACKGROUND The R-ZES is the first drug-eluting stent specifically indicated in the United States for percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with diabetes. METHODS We pooled patient-level data for 5,130 patients from the RESOLUTE Global Clinical Program. A performance goal prospectively determined in conjunction with the FDA was established as a rate of target vessel failure at 12 months of 14.5%. In addition to the FDA pre-specified cohort of less complex patients with diabetes (n = 878), we evaluated outcomes of the R-ZES in all 1,535 patients with diabetes compared with all 3,595 patients without diabetes at 2 years. RESULTS The 12-month rate of target vessel failure in the pre-specified diabetic cohort was 7.8% (upper 95% confidence interval: 9.51%), significantly lower than the performance goal of 14.5% (p < 0.001). After 2 years, the cumulative incidence of target lesion failure in patients with noninsulin-treated diabetes was comparable to that of patients without diabetes (8.0% vs. 7.1%). The higher risk insulin-treated population demonstrated a significantly higher target lesion failure rate (13.7%). In the whole population, including complex patients, rates of stent thrombosis were not significantly different between patients with and without diabetes (1.2% vs. 0.8%). CONCLUSIONS The R-ZES is safe and effective in patients with diabetes. Long-term clinical data of patients with noninsulin-treated diabetes are equivalent to patients without diabetes. Patients with insulin-treated diabetes remain a higher risk subset. (The Medtronic RESOLUTE Clinical Trial; NCT00248079; Randomized, Two-arm, Non-inferiority Study Comparing Endeavor-Resolute Stent With Abbot Xience-V Stent [RESOLUTE-AC]; NCT00617084; The Medtronic RESOLUTE US Clinical Trial (R-US); NCT00726453; RESOLUTE International Registry: Evaluation of the Resolute Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent System in a 'Real-World' Patient Population [R-Int]; NCT00752128; RESOLUTE Japan-The Clinical Evaluation of the MDT-4107 Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent [RJ]; NCT00927940).

Insulin increases serum leptin concentrations in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed type I diabetes mellitus with and without ketoacidosis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS The aims of this study were to analyse the changes of serum leptin in newly diagnosed children and adolescents with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus after insulin treatment and to examine the possible impact of ketoacidosis on these changes. METHODS Baseline serum leptin concentrations were measured in 28 newly diagnosed Type I diabetic patients [age 8.75 +/- 4.05 years (means +/- SD); BMI 15.79 +/- 2.47 kg/m(2); HbA(1 c) 11.3 +/- 1.9 %] with (n = 18) and without (n = 10) ketoacidosis before commencement of insulin treatment, at the time of diagnosis. Thereafter, during a 4-day course of continuous intravenous insulin injection to gain and maintain euglycaemia, serum leptin concentrations were assessed. RESULTS Baseline serum leptin concentrations, adjusted to age, BMI, sex and pubertal stage, differed among these patients. There was, however, an increase of leptin in all subjects from 1.37 +/- 0.56 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) up to 2.97 +/- 1.52 ng/ml by 117 % (p < 0.0001) after insulin therapy. On average, peak serum leptin concentration was obtained after 42 h of insulin treatment. Further, there was no difference in the mean increase of serum leptin concentrations in the two groups, namely with and without ketoadicosis, of insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents. In addition, there was no correlation between serum leptin concentrations and correction of ketoacidosis during insulin treatment. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Insulin increases serum leptin, within 1 day, in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed Type I diabetes. Ketoacidosis does not influence this interaction between insulin and leptin.

Incidence of and risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia in treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the UK - a nested case-control analysis

AIMS To assess incidence rates (IRs) of and identify risk factors for incident severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes newly treated with antidiabetic drugs. METHODS Using the UK-based General Practice Research Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study between 1994 and 2011 and a nested case-control analysis. Ten controls from the population at risk were matched to each case with a recorded severe hypoglycaemia during follow-up on general practice, years of history in the database and calendar time. Using multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses, we adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Of 130,761 patients with newly treated type 2 diabetes (mean age 61.7 ± 13.0 years), 690 (0.5%) had an incident episode of severe hypoglycaemia recorded [estimated IR 11.97 (95% confidence interval, CI, 11.11-12.90) per 10,000 person-years (PYs)]. The IR was markedly higher in insulin users [49.64 (95% CI, 44.08-55.89) per 10,000 PYs] than in patients not using insulin [8.03 (95% CI, 7.30-8.84) per 10,000 PYs]. Based on results of the nested case-control analysis increasing age [≥ 75 vs. 20-59 years; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.27; 95% CI, 1.65-3.12], cognitive impairment/dementia (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.37-2.91), renal failure (adjusted OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.71), current use of sulphonylureas (adjusted OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 3.53-5.60) and current insulin use (adjusted OR, 11.83; 95% CI, 9.00-15.54) were all associated with an increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia. CONCLUSIONS Severe hypoglycaemia was recorded in 12 cases per 10,000 PYs. Risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia included increasing age, renal failure, cognitive impairment/dementia, and current use of insulin or sulphonylureas.

Prevalence of vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus compared with type-1 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study of two cohorts.

OBJECTIVES Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with considerable cardiovascular morbidity that has not yet been directly compared with other diseases with known cardiovascular risk. METHODS Two hundred and forty-one patients of the multicentre Swiss SLE cohort study (SSCS) were cross-sectionally assessed for coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). SLE patients were compared with a cohort of 193 patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus being followed at the University Hospital Basel. A subgroup analysis of 50 age- and sex-matched patients from the University Hospital Basel was performed. RESULTS Of patients within the SSCS 13.3% had one or more vascular events: 8.3% CHD, 5% CVD and 1.2% PAD. In type-1 diabetes mellitus patients, 15% had vascular events: 9.3% CHD, 3.1% CVD and 5.6% PAD. In the matched subgroup, 26% of SLE patients had vascular events (14% CHD) compared with 12% in type-1 DM patients (2% CHD). Cardiovascular risk factors were similar in both groups. Vascular events in SLE patients were associated with age, longer disease duration, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. CONCLUSION Cardiovascular morbidity in SLE is at least as frequent as in age- and sex-matched type-1 diabetes mellitus patients. Therefore, aggressive screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors should be performed.