Accuracy of continuous glucose monitoring in the hospital setting: an observational study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves glycaemic outcomes in the outpatient setting; however, there are limited data regarding CGM accuracy in hospital. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study comparing CGM data from blinded Dexcom G6 Pro sensors with reference point of care and laboratory glucose measurements during participants' hospitalisations. Key accuracy metrics included the proportion of CGM values within ±20% of reference glucose values >5.6 mmol/l or within ±1.1 mmol/l of reference glucose values ≤5.6 mmol/l (%20/20), the mean and median absolute relative difference between CGM and reference value (MARD and median ARD, respectively) and Clarke error grid analysis (CEGA). A retrospective calibration scheme was used to determine whether calibration improved sensor accuracy. Multivariable regression models and subgroup analyses were used to determine the impact of clinical characteristics on accuracy assessments. RESULTS: A total of 326 adults hospitalised on 19 medical or surgical non-intensive care hospital floors were enrolled, providing 6648 matched glucose pairs. The %20/20 was 59.5%, the MARD was 19.2% and the median ARD was 16.8%. CEGA showed that 98.2% of values were in zone A (clinically accurate) and zone B (benign). Subgroups with lower accuracy metrics included those with severe anaemia, renal dysfunction and oedema. Application of a once-daily morning calibration schedule improved accuracy (MARD 11.4%). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The CGM accuracy when used in hospital may be lower than that reported in the outpatient setting, but this may be improved with appropriate patient selection and daily calibration. Further research is needed to understand the role of CGM in inpatient settings.

Legionella pulmonary abscess and pleural space infection in an immunocompetent patient.

A 34-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with dyspnoea, dry cough and left-sided flank pain. Her Legionella urinary test was positive and CT imaging demonstrated multifocal pneumonia with pulmonary abscesses. Although she had initial clinical improvement on appropriate antibiotic therapy, her hospital course was complicated by worsening flank pain, hypoxemia and leucocytosis, prompting clinical re-evaluation and assessment for development of complications involving the pleural space. CT imaging revealed interval development of a loculated complicated parapneumonic effusion. Successful treatment required chest tube drainage assisted by fibrinolytic therapy. This case highlights the importance of considering Legionella in patients with pulmonary abscess, demonstrates an approach to a patient with a non-resolving pneumonia and illustrates the management of parapneumonic effusions.

Emerging trends and the clinical impact of food insecurity in patients with diabetes.

Food insecurity is a major public health concern in the United States affecting 15 million households according to data in 2017 from the US Department of Agriculture. Food insecurity, or the inability to consistently obtain nutritious food, disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged households, as well as those with chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM). This review article explores the literature over the past 10 years pertaining to the complex relationship between food insecurity, social determinants of health, and chronic disease with an emphasis on diabetes and glycemic control. Those with diabetes and food insecurity together have been shown to have worse glycemic control compared to those who are food secure, but it remains unclear exactly how food insecurity affects glycemic control. Prior interventional studies have targeted aspects of food insecurity in patients with diabetes but have reported variable outcomes with respect to improvement in glycemic control despite effectively reducing rates of food insecurity. Additionally, few data exist regarding long-term outcomes and diabetes-related complications in this population. It is likely that many factors at both the community and individual levels impact glycemic control outcomes in the setting of food insecurity. Further studies are needed to better understand these factors and to create multifaceted targets for future interventional studies aimed at improving glycemic control in this population.