Role of Caregivers in Remote Management of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: With the growing use of remote monitoring technologies in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), caregivers are becoming important resources that can be tapped into to improve patient care. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to summarize the role of caregivers in the remote monitoring of patients with T2DM. METHODS: We performed a systematic review in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science up to 2022. Studies that evaluated the role of caregivers in remote management of adult patients with T2DM were included. Outcomes such as diabetes control, adherence to medication, quality of life, frequency of home glucose monitoring, and health care use were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1198 identified citations, 11 articles were included. The majority of studies were conducted in North America (7/11, 64%) and South America (2/11, 18%). The main types of caregivers studied were family or friends (10/11, 91%), while the most common remote monitoring modalities evaluated were interactive voice response (5/11, 45%) and phone consultations (4/11, 36%). With regard to diabetes control, 3 of 6 studies showed improvement in diabetes-related laboratory parameters. A total of 2 studies showed improvements in patients' medication adherence rates and frequency of home glucose monitoring. Studies that evaluated patients' quality of life showed mixed evidence. In 1 study, increased hospitalization rates were noted in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers may play a role in improving clinical outcomes among patients with T2DM under remote monitoring. Studies on mobile health technologies are lacking to understand their impact on Asian populations and long-term patient outcomes.

Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Peritonitis in the Elderly and Younger Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of elderly patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) has increased. This study aimed to examine the clinical presentation and outcomes of peritonitis in elderly PD patients compared with younger PD patients. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study included all adult PD patients who developed peritonitis between January 2011 and December 2014. Elderly was defined as ≥ 65 years old at PD initiation. The primary outcome was medical cure, defined as a peritonitis episode cured by antibiotics without being complicated by catheter removal, transfer to hemodialysis (HD), relapsing peritonitis,or death. The secondary outcomes were clinical manifestations (fever, cloudy dialysate) and complications (catheter removal, transfer to HD, relapse, hospitalization, and mortality). Peritonitis outcomes were compared using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 377 peritonitis episodes occurred in 247 patients. Of these, 126 episodes occurred in 79 elderly patients and 251 episodes occurred in 168 younger patients. Baseline demographic data were comparable between the 2 groups, except that elderly patients were significantly more likely to have diabetes mellitus (66% vs 46%), diabetic nephropathy (55% vs 39%), and a lower serum albumin than younger patients. Medical cure was comparable between the 2 groups (71% vs 72%, respectively, p = 0.67, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52 - 1.53). Compared with younger patients, elderly patients experiencing peritonitis had lower odds of fever (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30 - 0.94), cloudy dialysate (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.23 - 0.88), and catheter removal (AOR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26 - 0.98), but similar odds of transfer to HD (AOR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.32 - 1.51), relapse (AOR 1.57, 95% CI: 0.46 - 5.40), hospitalization (AOR 1.55, 95% CI: 0.52 - 4.56), and all-cause mortality (AOR 1.88, 95% CI: 0.83 - 4.26). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with younger patients, elderly PD patients with peritonitis achieved similar medical cure rates, a lower catheter removal rate, and comparable rates of HD transfer, relapse, hospitalization, and death. Elderly PD patients experiencing peritonitis were less likely to present with fever or cloudy dialysate.

Appropriateness of vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring and its outcomes among non-dialysis patients in a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

Background Vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is commonly performed to ensure safe and effective use of the antibiotic. Aim of Study To evaluate appropriateness of vancomycin TDM and its outcomes in Singapore General Hospital. Method A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 January 2014 and 28 February 2014 involving patients who received ≥ 1 dose of intravenous vancomycin with TDM. Patient demographics and relevant vancomycin TDM data were collected from medical records. Results Of 746 vancomycin troughs measured among 234 patients, 459 troughs (61.5%) were taken inappropriately, with a median time of 2.6 h (interquartile range 1.1-4.3) before the next scheduled dose. Inappropriate interpretation of vancomycin troughs resulted in 41 unnecessary dose suspensions, 24 dose changes, and 102 unchanged vancomycin doses. The cost incurred due to inappropriate interpretation and measurement after discontinuation of treatment was US$7286. No differences in rates of vancomycin related nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, recurrent infection, development of infection secondary to vancomycin resistant microorganism and mortality were observed (p > 0.05). Conclusion This study highlighted a high incidence of inappropriate vancomycin TDM which has led to increased healthcare cost.