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Risk of Hospitalization in Diabetic Patients with Severe Hypoglycemia: A Single-Center Study

Authors :
Leonardo Pieramati
Enzo Mantovani
Giuseppe Lucchini
Massimo Amato
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Background: Severe hypoglycemia is defined as having low blood glucose levels that requires assistance from another person to treat. Severe hypoglycemia is classed as a diabetic emergency and is a complication that can occur in people with diabetes that take insulin and certain anti-diabetic drugs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with hospitalization. Methods: The study was retrospectively conducted on the clinical records of adults with severe hypoglycemia who were admitted consecutively to the Emergency Department (ED) of the Carlo Poma Hospital from January 2021 to December 2021. Results: Overall, 50 patients were identified and most of these were elderly and had multiple comorbidities. They were treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs such as sulfonylureas or glinides (42%), insulin (46%) or both (6%). Hospitalization rates and in-hospital deaths occurred in 62% and in 4% of patients, respectively. There is a greater risk of hospitalization (15%) in favor of the group of patients aged ≥ 80 years compared to that with patients aged < 80 years. Conclusions: Severe hypoglycemia increases the risk of hospitalization particulary in elderly diabetic patients. Special care should be taken when prescribing anti-diabetic drugs in elderly patients, in accordance with recent guidelines, in order to avoid episodes of severe hypoglycemia that can lead to hospitalization.

Subjects

Subjects :
medicine_pharmacology_other

Details

Database :
OpenAIRE
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....4704b7ef70149757e398c73350a8db26
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202209.0153.v3