Table 1.
Characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes in relation to hypoglycemia during admission
| Characteristic | No hypoglycemia (n = 170) | Mild hypoglycemia (blood glucose 56–70 mg/dL) (n = 63) | Severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤ 55 mg/dL) (n = 91) | Any hypoglycemia (n = 154) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Age (years) | 66 (57–75) | 71 (65–77)* | 74 (66–79)*** | 73 (66–78)*** |
| Sex (male), n (%) | 118 (69.4) | 41 (65.0) | 55 (60.4) | 96 (62.3) |
| Metabolic characteristics | ||||
| Known diagnosis of type 2 diabetes before admission, n (%) | 139 (81.7) | 59 (93.6)* | 88 (96.7)*** | 147 (95.4)*** |
| Ambulatory treatment with insulin before admission, n (%) | 56 (32.9) | 43 (68.2)*** | 52 (57.1)*** | 95 (61.6)*** |
| Insulin dose before admission (IU/kg/day)a | 0.42 (0.23–0.63) | 0.41 (0.27–0.61) | 0.64 (0.44–0.91)** | 0.57 (0.35–0.95)* |
| Multiple doses of insulin before admission, n (%)b | 27 (50.0) | 23 (53.4) | 41 (78.8)** | 64 (67.3)* |
| Body mass index (kg/m2)c | 29.3 (25.6–34.1) | 28.1 (24.0–32.5) | 25.2 (22.4–29.1)*** | 25.8 (23.0–31.1)*** |
| Serum glucose on admission (mg/dL)d | 240 (182–349) | 236 (142–311) | 225 (160–309) | 226 (152–310) |
| HbA1c during or before admission (%)e | 8.1 (7.0–9.9) | 7.6 (6.6–9.2)* | 7.4 (6.5–8.9)** | 7.5 (6.6–8.9)** |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | 5 (4–7) | 6 (5–8)*** | 7 (6–9)*** | 7 (6–9)*** |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.7 m2)f | 67 (40–87) | 50 (31–84) | 48 (27–76)** | 48 (27–82)** |
| Characteristics of admission | ||||
| Surgical department admission, n (%) | 48 (28.2) | 26 (41.2) | 38 (41.7)* | 64 (41.5)* |
| ICU admission, n (%) | 13 (7.6) | 10 (15.8) | 14 (15.3) | 24 (15.5)* |
| Days until assessment by the Endocrinology department | 5 (3–8) | 7 (3–9) | 8 (4–14)*** | 7 (4–13)*** |
| Therapy during admission | ||||
| Insulin, n (%)g | 150 (88.2) | 61 (96.8)* | 91 (100.0)*** | 152 (98.7)*** |
| Secretagogues, n (%)h | 13 (7.6) | 6 (9.5) | 16 (17.5)* | 22 (14.2) |
| Antidiabetic agents that are unlikely to cause hypoglycemia, n (%)i | 112 (65.8) | 34 (53.9) | 37 (40.6)*** | 71 (46.1)*** |
| Systemic corticosteroids, n (%)j | 75 (44.1) | 31 (49.2) | 49 (53.8) | 80 (51.9) |
Numerical variables are expressed as medians and interquartile ranges (within parentheses)
*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 versus patients with no hypoglycemia
aData available for 110 patients (only patients with ambulatory treatment with insulin were included)
bOutpatient treatment with 2 or more insulin injections per day. Data available for 149 patients (only patients with ambulatory treatment with insulin were included)
cCalculated only if the body weight was available during admission. Data available for 282 patients
dData available for 296 patients
ePreferably, HbA1c value during admission was used. If not available, the most recent HbA1c value available before admission was used. Data available for 320 patients
fGlomerular filtration rate was estimated by CKD-EPI equation, using the first creatinine value available during admission. Data available for 321 patients
gPatients who received at least one dose of any type of subcutaneous or intravenous insulin
hIncludes sulfonylureas and meglitinides
iIncludes metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors and thiazolidinediones
jPatients who received at least one dose of any type of oral or intravenous glucocorticoid
ICU, intensive care unit