Psychological and Situational Factors Affecting Dropout from Regular Visits in Diabetes Practice: The Japan Diabetes Outcome Intervention Trial-2 Large Scale Trial 004 (J-DOIT2-LT004).

Introduction: This study explored the psychological and situational factors affecting dropout from regular visits to diabetes care using data obtained from the Japan Diabetes Outcome Intervention Trial 2 (J-DOIT2) Large-scale Trial (LT). Methods: A total of 2,031 patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the J-DOIT2-LT were included in the analysis. Responses to a baseline questionnaire with 17 items asking about the experience of dropout from regular visits in diabetes care and its reasons were analyzed using principal component analysis, and factors related to dropout were extracted. Using Cox regression analysis, the association of these factors with the incidence of dropout was investigated. Results: The mean age of the 2,031 patients was 56.4 ± 5.9 years and 742 (36.5%) were women. They were followed for a median of 392 days, and 125 patients dropped out from regular visits during the follow-up period. In the principal component analysis of the questionnaire, there were four latent factors with eigenvalues of >1.0, which were labeled as "negative perceptions for regular visits," "social pressure," "lack of perceived necessity," and "environmental obstacles" based on the retained items. The Cox regression analysis demonstrated that patients with high scores of "lack of perceived necessity" and "environmental obstacles" had a significantly increased risk of dropout from regular visits. Conclusions: The present study revealed psychological and situational factors related to dropout, which may be useful for detecting patients at high risk of dropout. Effective measures focusing on such patients to prevent dropouts should be investigated in future studies (The trial registration number: UMIN000002186, registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network-Clinical Trials Registry).

Cross-sectional associations between the types/amounts of beverages consumed and the glycemia status: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Diabetes study.

Background: The associations between the types/amounts of beverages consumed in daily life and measures of the glycemia status were investigated in a Japanese population-based cohort. Methods: Data from the baseline survey of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Diabetes cohort were used. A cross-sectional analysis was performed in 3852 men and 6003 women who were evaluated under the fasting condition. The daily consumptions of coffee, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, soft drinks, fruit juices, or plain water were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses were performed using measures of the glycemia status (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ) as dependent variables and the types/amounts of beverages consumed as the independent variables, to calculate the differences according to the types/amounts of beverages consumed. Results: In the multivariable-adjusted models, coffee consumption of ≥240 mL/day was significantly associated with a change of the FPG level by -1.9 mg/dL in men (p = 0.013) and -1.4 mg/dL in women (p = 0.015), as compared to coffee consumption of 0 mL/day. No significant association of the FPG level was observed with any of the other types/amounts of beverages consumed. On the other hand, significant associations were found between the HbA1c levels and consumption of several types of beverages. Conclusions: High coffee consumption was associated with lower FPG levels in this Japanese population. Some unexpected associations of the HbA1c levels with the consumption of some types of beverages were observed, which need to be further investigated.

Clinical impact of noncontrast percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

PURPOSE: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is one of the common serious complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to assess the significance of noncontrast strategy in the setting of ACS. METHODS: CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of ?0.5 mg/dL or ?1.25 times from the baseline. One-year worsening renal function (WRF) was defined as an increase of ?0.3mg/dL in serum creatinine from the baseline after PCI. RESULTS: Of 250 ACS patients, 81 were treated with noncontrast PCI. The average doses of contrast medium in the noncontrast and conventional groups were 17 (9?22) ml and 150 (120?200) ml, respectively. CI-AKI was observed in 4 patients (5%) in the noncontrast group and 29 patients (17%) in the conventional group. Noncontrast PCI was associated with a lower incidence of CI-AKI (adjusted odds ratio, 0.26;95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08?0.82). The bootstrap method and inverse probability weighting led to similar results. CI-AKI was associated with a higher incidence of 1-year WRF (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.30;95% CI, 1.12?4.69), while noncontrast PCI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Noncontrast PCI was associated with the lower incidence of CI-AKI in ACS patients. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 57-64, February, 2022.

Clinical impact of perioperative atrial fibrillation on long-term recurrence of malignancy.

Perioperative complications have been reported to be associated with a lower incidence of cancer-free survival. Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of occasionally observed complications in patients with malignancies who undergo noncardiac surgeries. However, the long-term clinical impact of POAF on those with malignancies have remained unknown. This was a prospective, single-center, observational study. Patients who underwent noncardiac surgeries for definitive malignancies between 2014 and 2017 were included. The primary and secondary endpoints were 3-year recurrence of malignancies and cancer death, respectively. The present study included consecutive 752 patients (mean age, 68 ± 11 years; males, 62%), and POAF was observed in 77 patients. The follow-up duration was 1037 (interquartile range, 699-1408) days. The 3-year recurrence of malignancies was observed in 239 (32%) patients (POAF, 32 [42%]; non-POAF, 207 [31%]) and 3-year mortality was 130 patients (17%). Cardiac, noncardiac, and cancer deaths were observed in 4 (0.5%), 126 (17%), and 111 (15%) patients, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that POAF was associated with 3-year recurrence of malignancies (hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.52). Landmark analysis demonstrated that POAF tended to be correlated with the incidence of 3-year cancer death (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 0.96-3.31). In conclusion, POAF is associated with the subsequent recurrence of malignancies. The association of arrhythmia with cancer death may be revealed under longer follow-up durations.Clinical Trial Registration: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000018270 . UMIN ID: UMIN000016146.

Feasibility and safety of noncontrast percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with complicated acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the feasibility and safety of noncontrast percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) occurs in 10-20% of ACS patients undergoing PCI, resulting in poor short- and long-term prognoses. Reducing the amount of contrast medium can prevent CI-AKI. METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study. In successful noncontrast PCI, contrast medium was not injected from guiding catheter engagement to wire removal in ad-hoc PCI. Coronary angiography after PCI was permitted once. CI-AKI was defined as an increase in the serum creatinine level of ≥0.5 mg/dl or ≥1.25 times the baseline within 72 hr post PCI. Worsening renal function (WRF) was defined as an increase in the serum creatinine level of ≥0.3 mg/dl from baseline after PCI. RESULTS: This study included 106 lesions from 81 patients. Forty-eight (45%) lesions were Type C lesions. Successful noncontrast PCI was performed in 95 (90%) lesions. CI-AKI, coronary perforation, no/slow flow, and periprocedural death were observed in 4 (5%), 0, 9 (11%), and 0 patients, respectively. The follow-up period was 348 (190-492) days. Six-month WRF was observed in 18 individuals (22%). While successful noncontrast PCI was not associated with the incidence of CI-AKI, successful noncontrast PCI was inversely associated with WRF (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.90) after adjustment for renal function. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that noncontrast PCI is feasible and can be safely performed in ACS patients with complex lesions.

Clinical characterization of patients with primary aldosteronism plus subclinical Cushing's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism (PA) plus subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS), PASCS, has occasionally been reported. We aimed to clinically characterize patients with PASCS who are poorly profiled. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective, single-center, observational study was conducted in 71 patients (age, 58.2 ± 11.2 years; 24 males and 47 females) who developed PA (n = 45), SCS (n = 12), or PASCS (n = 14). The main outcome measures were the proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), serum potassium concentration, and maximum tumor diameter (MTD) on the computed tomography (CT) scans. RESULTS: The proportion of DM patients was significantly greater in the PASCS group than in the PA group (50.0% vs. 13.9%, p <  0.05), without a significant difference between the PASCS and SCS groups. Serum potassium concentration was significantly lower in the PASCS group than in the SCS group (3.2 ± 0.8 mEq/L vs. 4.0 ± 0.5 mEq/L; p <  0.01), without a significant difference between the PASCS and PA groups. Among the 3 study groups of patients who had a unilateral adrenal tumor, MTD was significantly greater in the PASCS group than in the PA group (2.7 ± 0.1 cm vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 cm; p <  0.001), without a significant difference between the PASCS and SCS groups. CONCLUSIONS: Any reference criteria were not obtained that surely distinguish patients with PASCS from those with PA or SCS. However, clinicians should suspect the presence of concurrent SCS in patients with PA when detecting a relatively large adrenal tumor on the CT scans.

Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation in Noncardiac Surgeries for Malignancies and One-Year Recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in noncardiac surgeries is common. However, it is unclear whether such atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs in the long term. METHODS: This study was a prospective, single-center, observational study that included patients who underwent noncardiac surgeries for malignancies. Patients were followed up for 1 year to evaluate the incidence of AF, ischemic stroke, and mortality. An event-triggered recorder was used in patients with POAF. The incidences were compared according to the presence of POAF. RESULTS: Of 752 consecutive patients, 77 (10.2%) developed POAF and wore an event recorder for 19 (12-30) days. AF and ischemic stroke at 1 year were observed in 24 patients (31.1%) and 2 patients (2.6%) with POAF and 4 patients (0.6%) and 3 patients (0.4%) without POAF, respectively. Of the 24 patients with POAF and AF recurrence, 22 (92%) were asymptomatic. Anticoagulation was prescribed in 67 patients (87%) with POAF. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a higher AF recurrence rate in patients with POAF was associated with hypertension (hazard ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-7.38) and serum creatinine level (hazard ratio for 20 µmol/L increase, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-4.62). CONCLUSIONS: AF recurs in approximately 30% of patients with POAF with malignancy in the subsequent year; most recurrences are asymptomatic.

Determination of factors affecting medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using a nationwide claim-based database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The extent of medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) several years after starting treatment with hypoglycemic agents remains unknown. Most previous work on medication adherence targeting this group of patients has been undertaken across a single year or is questionnaire based. This study aimed to determine medication adherence status and factors affecting adherence 3 years after initiation of hypoglycemic agents, using a nationwide medical claim-based database in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on data from 884 subjects with T2DM to better understand medication adherence, the effects of polypharmacy, and other factors. We also investigated the effects of medication nonadherence on hemoglobin A1c levels. Proportion of days covered was defined as the number of days for which a hypoglycemic agent was prescribed and in the patient's possession to the number of days in the observation period. A proportion of days covered ≥0.8 were considered adherent, and those with a value <0.8 as nonadherence. Polypharmacy was defined as taking ≥5 medications. RESULTS: Of the 884 patients investigated, 440 were considered adherent during the study period. Significant factors related to adherence included number of medications (3 or 4, or ≥5), male sex, age 50-<60 years, and total number of visits ≥17. Medication adherence was also a factor related to patients with hemoglobin A1c values < 7.0% at the end of the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: We surveyed medication adherence for 3 years with post medication initiation, and found that subjects aged 50-<60 years, those with ≥3 concomitant medications, and those with a total number of visits ≥17 were more likely to be adherent and persistent, and more likely to continue their hypoglycemic agents. A high degree of medication adherence was found to have a positive influence on hemoglobin A1c levels.

Polypharmacy and oral antidiabetic treatment for type 2 diabetes characterised by drug class and patient characteristics: A Japanese database analysis.

Polypharmacy (PP) occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) owing to multimorbidity. We evaluated concomitant PP and medication adherence in T2DM 3 years after initiation of administration of a hypoglycaemic agent using a nationwide claim-based database in Japan. Factors associated with medication PP and imperfect adherence were identified using multivariable logistic regression. PP was defined as using ≥6 medications. Patients with proportion of days covered (PDC) of <80% were defined as having poor medication adherence. A total of 884 patients were analysed. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, total number of consultations and body mass index (BMI) are factors that influence PP. Factors associated with PDC < 80% were 2-3, 4-5 and ≥ 6 medications compared with 1 medication, male sex, <17 consultations and age 50-59 and ≥ 60 years compared with <40 years. In conclusion, older age, high total number of consultations and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 are risk factors for PP. PP influenced good medication adherence at the end of the observation period.

Investigating the risk of bone fractures in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience fractures more frequently than elderly individuals without diabetes. Fractures requiring hospitalization greatly affect quality of life, and although elderly patients with T2DM have several risk factors associated with fractures, only a few studies have evaluated these in detail in the Asian population. We conducted a retrospective study of elderly patients with T2DM for evaluating factors associated with fracture risk. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using electronic medical records (EMR) of patients aged ≥65 years with T2DM who were admitted to a public general medical institute in central Tokyo, Japan. We evaluated factors associated with fractures necessitating hospitalization in elderly patients with T2DM characteristics and hypoglycemic agent use. Factors associated with fracture risk were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,112 elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) with T2DM were analyzed. Among them, 69 (3.3%) patients had been hospitalized for fractures. Factors associated with fractures were female sex (OR, 3.46), eGFR < 60 ml / min / 1.73 m2 (OR, 0.55), and thiazolidine use (OR, 4.28). Further, a separate analysis based on sex revealed that the use of thiazolidines was significantly associated with fracture risk in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with T2DM, the key factor associated with fractures was the use of thiazolidines in both males and females. In this study, the use of thiazolidines was newly identified as a factor which increased the risk of fractures requiring hospitalization in elderly males. The study findings should be considered when hypoglycemic agents are selected for treating elderly patients with T2DM. Information bias, selection bias, and the effect of concomitant drugs may be the underlying reasons for why eGFR < 60 mL / min / 1.73 m2 reduced the fracture risk. However, details are unknown, and additional investigations are needed.

Incidence and complications of perioperative atrial fibrillation after non-cardiac surgery for malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the common arrhythmias in the setting of non-cardiac surgeries for malignancy. As POAF may cause subsequent adverse events, it is important to confirm its characteristics and risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective cohort study of surveillance for perioperative atrial fibrillation recurrence (PREDICT AF RECURRENCE) is an ongoing prospective, single-center, observational study that aims to illustrate the clinical impact of POAF in major non-cardiac surgery for malignancy. Patients who planned to undergo non-cardiac surgery for definitive/suspected malignancy were registered. Those with a history of AF and atrial flutter were excluded. Any 30-day complications included acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, bleeding, thrombosis, any infection, and acute kidney injury. The primary endpoint was an incidence of POAF. RESULTS: The present study included 799 patients (age, 68 ± 11; male, 62%). Of these, 80 patients (10.0%) developed POAF. Notably, 66 patients (83%) had no symptoms. Any 30-day complications occurred in 180 patients (23%) (with POAF: 34 (43%); without POAF: 146 (20%); p < 0.001). POAF in 17 patients (50%) was preceded by the development of complications. No patient developed cardiogenic shock and/or acute heart failure. The association between 30-day complications and POAF development were analyzed using the multivariate adjusted model (odds ratio: 2.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.74-4.62; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ten percent of patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery for malignancy developed POAF, which was strongly associated with perioperative complications. As a majority were asymptomatic, careful observation using electrocardiography monitoring is important to avoid oversights. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN ID: UMIN000016146.

Urinary cast is a useful predictor of acute kidney injury in acute heart failure.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor prognosis among patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Early documentation of impaired kidney function through simple examination may provide risk reduction in such patients. The present study aims to reveal an association between cellular casts and hospital-acquired AKI in AHF. This study included patients with AHF who underwent urinalysis, including urinary sediment analysis within 24 hours post admission. AKI was defined as an increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours or ≥1.5 times in serum creatinine level in contrast to baseline creatinine level. In this study, 114 patients with AHF (age, 75 ± 14 years; male, 59.7%) were included. Of them, 40 (35%) developed hospital-acquired AKI. Cellular casts were detected in 30 patients (26%) prior to AKI development and related to hospital-acquired AKI in the multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 2.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-7.49; P = 0.041). In conclusion, cellular casts are observed occasionally in patients with AHF and potentially useful markers for development of AKI during hospitalization.

Dietary Approaches for Japanese Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of an energy restricted and carbohydrate restricted diet on the management of Japanese diabetes patients. Several databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society were searched for relevant articles published prior to June 2017. The articles identified were systematically reviewed. We identified 286 articles on an energy restricted diet, assessed seven and included two studies in our review. On a carbohydrate restricted diet, 75 articles were extracted, seven articles assessed and three included in the review, of which two were the studies that were selected for the energy restricted diet group, since they compared energy restricted diets with carbohydrate restricted diets. All selected studies were on Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. No studies for type 1 diabetes were found in our search. Two randomized controlled trials on an energy restricted diet were also included in the three studies for a carbohydrate restricted diet. All the three randomized controlled trials showed better glucose management with the carbohydrate restricted diet. Our study revealed that there is very little evidence on diets, particularly in Japanese patients with diabetes, and that the energy restricted diet, which has been recommended by the Japan Diabetes Society in the sole dietary management approach, is not supported by any scientific evidence. Our findings suggest that the carbohydrate restricted diet, but not the energy restricted diet, might have short term benefits for the management of diabetes in Japanese patients. However, since our analysis was based on a limited number of small randomized controlled trials, large scale and/or long term trials examining the dietary approaches in these patients are needed to confirm our findings.

The study protocol for PREDICT AF RECURRENCE: a PRospEctive cohort stuDy of surveIllanCe for perioperaTive Atrial Fibrillation RECURRENCE in major non-cardiac surgery for malignancy.

BACKGROUND: A previous retrospective cohort study established the relationship between perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and subsequent mortality and stroke. However, the details regarding the cause of death and etiology of stroke remain unclear. METHODS: The prospective cohort study of surveillance for perioperative atrial fibrillation recurrence in major non-cardiac surgery for malignancy (PREDICT AF RECURRENCE) registry is an ongoing prospective cohort study to elucidate the long-term recurrence rate and the clinical impact of new-onset POAF in the setting of head and neck, non-cardiac thoracic, and abdominal surgery for malignancy. In this study, cardiologists collaborate with a surgical team during the perioperative period, carefully observe the electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor, and treat arrhythmia as required. Furthermore, patients who develop new-onset POAF are followed up using a long-term Holter ECG monitor, SPIDER FLASH-t AFib®, to assess POAF recurrence. DISCUSSION: Even if patients with malignancy survive by overcoming the disease, they may die from any preventable cardiovascular diseases. In particular, those with POAF may develop cardiogenic stroke in the future. Because details of the natural history of patients with POAF remain unclear, investigating the need to continue anticoagulation therapy for such patients is necessary. This study will provide essential information on the recurrence rate of POAF and new insights into the prediction and treatment of POAF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN-CTR): UMIN000016146 ; Data of Registration: January 7, 2015.

Low Bilirubin Levels Indicate a High Risk of Cerebral Deep White Matter Lesions in Apparently Healthy Subjects.

Recent studies have reported that deep white matter lesions (DWMLs) on magnetic resonance imaging scans are related to the risk of developing impaired cognitive function in future. Bilirubin exhibits a potent antioxidant effect and an inverse relationship has been reported between bilirubin levels and the risk of several atherosclerotic diseases; however, there is limited evidence with regard to the effect of bilirubin levels on cerebrovascular diseases including DWMLs. This cross-sectional study included 1121 apparently healthy Japanese adults. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their bilirubin levels (low, <0.5 mg/dl; intermediate, ≥0.5 mg/dl and <1.0 mg/dl; and high, ≥1.0 mg/dl). The severity of DWMLs was evaluated according to Fazekas scale and their relation to bilirubin levels was examined. The association between bilirubin levels and the presence of severe DWMLs was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The analysis revealed that the low- and intermediate bilirubin groups indicated 2.36- and 1.33-fold increase in the prevalence of severe DWMLs compared with the high-bilirubin group, respectively (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-4.97 (the low-bilirubin group), 95% CI: 0.85-2.07 (the intermediate-bilirubin group). In conclusion, low total bilirubin levels could be associated with a high prevalence of severe DWMLs in apparent healthy subjects.

Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio is independently related to small and large cerebrovascular lesions even in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The severity of obesity is evaluated by visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VS ratio), which may be useful for predicting atherosclerosis. However, it is unclear how VS ratio affects different types of cerebrovascular lesions. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical impact of visceral fat accumulation on the cerebrovascular lesions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 980 apparently healthy Japanese adults who underwent a health check-up program focused toward atherosclerosis, between 2011 and 2014. Visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation was measured using abdominal computed tomography, and its relation to cerebrovascular disease was surveyed. RESULTS: Visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation was 88 ± 50 cm2 and 141 ± 77 cm2, respectively. VS ratio was 0.69 ± 0.38. Intimal thickening in the carotid arteries was detected in 849 cases (86.6%) and stenosis was observed in seven (0.7%). Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter hyperintensities regarded as ischemic changes in 196 subjects (20.0%). Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperuricemia showed that a 0.1 increase in VS ratio was related to the presence of ischemic changes [odds ratio (OR): 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10, p = 0.009], cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.25, p = 0.007), and cervical plaque (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.13, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: VS ratio was independently associated with both large and small vessel lesions in apparently healthy subjects.

Factors affecting consultation length in a Japanese diabetes practice.

AIMS: Sufficient consultation time is important for establishing good doctor-patient relationship. We examined the factors that affect consultation length in Japanese diabetes practice. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed at a diabetes clinic in central Tokyo, Japan. Regular diabetes consultations of 1197 patients with 22 physicians were analyzed. Consultation time and clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic records. A negative binomial model, which included patient and physician characteristics, was constructed to examine the association of the variables with consultation length. RESULTS: Of the 1197 patients (mean age, 66; women, 25%; type 1 diabetes, 10%), the mean consultation time was 10.1min. In the multivariate model, longer consultation time was recorded in patients with type 1 diabetes, higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), use of insulin injections, and use of hypnotics/anxiolytics. The consultation time was longer in patients with HbA1c of ⩾7.0 to <8.0% (⩾53 to <64mmol/mol), ⩾8.0 to <9.0% (⩾64 to <75mmol/mol) and ⩾9.0% (⩾75mmol/mol), compared to those with HbA1c of <7.0% (<53mmol/mol) with the ratios of 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.96-1.10), 1.16 (95% CI=1.07-1.26) and 1.17 (95% CI=1.06-1.29), respectively. Body mass index was also associated with long consultation. Older and female physicians provided longer consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical consultation length in diabetes practice was associated with certain patient and physician characteristics. The findings can be used for making diabetes consultation more efficacious, which could eventually lead to the provision of the most appropriate consultation time for individual patients.

Clinical impact of non-culprit lesions on 1-year mortality in very elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Preventive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for non-culprit lesions after primary PCI remains controversial in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We analyzed whether PCI for non-culprit lesions would be associated with a better long-term prognosis in very elderly (≥85 years) patients. This study included 91 consecutive patients with ACS (mean age, 88.2 ± 3.0, 52 % male). We investigated the association of residual lesions with 1-year mortality. Culprit lesions affected the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 50 patients, the left circumflex artery (LCx) in 29, and the right coronary artery (RCA) in 31. Residual lesions affected LAD in 20 cases, LCx in 22, and RCA in 21 patients. Residual lesions in LAD were associated with a higher 1-year mortality (p = 0.013), whereas residual lesions in LCx or RCA were not (p = 0.547 and 0.473, respectively). A Cox regression model demonstrated that patients with residual lesions in LAD had an increased risk of 1-year mortality compared with those without residual lesions (hazard ratio, 2.39; 95 % confidence interval, 1.16-4.96; p = 0.019). Therefore, the option to not treat residual lesions in LAD of patients with PCI may be associated with a higher 1-year mortality. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Diabetes Affects Length of Stay and Hospital Costs for Elderly Patients with Pneumonia: An Analysis of a Hospital Administrative Database.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the association of having diabetes with length of stay and hospital costs for elderly patients with pneumonia who were admitted to an acute-care hospital in Japan. METHODS: Based on the inpatient administrative claims database of an acute-care hospital in central Tokyo between 2010 and 2013, 753 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to the hospital presenting with pneumonia and discharged alive were analyzed. The association was analyzed using a negative binomial model, having adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, dyspnea grade, functional evaluation of feeding, use of mechanical ventilation, and use of renal replacement therapy. A log-linear regression model adjusted for the same variables was used in the analysis of hospital costs. RESULTS: Of the 753 patients (mean age, 82.5 years; men, 58.2%), 225 patients had diabetes. The negative binomial regression revealed that those with diabetes had a 1.19 times longer length of stay (95% CI = 1.06-1.33) compared to those without. The log-linear regression revealed that hospital costs were 1.14 times higher (95% CI = 1.04-1.25) in patients with diabetes. CONCLUSION: The presence of diabetes significantly correlated with longer length of stay and higher hospital costs for elderly patients with pneumonia.

Diabetic Microangiopathy Is an Independent Predictor of Incident Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

AIM: To determine the diabetic foot ulcer incidence and examine its association with microangiopathy complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and albuminuria (Alb), in type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 1,305 patients with type 2 diabetes who were assigned to the following groups: Category 1, normoalbuminuria without DR (n = 712); Category 2, Alb without DR (n = 195); Category 3, normoalbuminuria with DR (n = 185); and Category 4, Alb with DR (n = 213). Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risks of developing diabetic foot ulcers across the categories. RESULTS: During 14,249 person-years of follow-up, 50 subjects developed diabetic foot ulcers, with incidence rates of 1.6/1,000, 1.5/1,000, 3.4/1,000, and 12.5/1,000 person-years in Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. After adjusting for the presence of diabetic neuropathy and macroangiopathy, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of diabetic foot ulcer development were 0.66 (95% CI, 0.18-2.36), 1.72 (95% CI, 0.67-4.42), and 3.17 (95% CI, 1.52-6.61) in Categories 2, 3, and 4, respectively, compared with Category 1. CONCLUSION: The presence of DR and Alb significantly increases the risk of diabetic foot ulcer development.