Epidemiology and risk factors of hypoglycemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes in Brazil: a cross-sectional, multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia (SH) in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in Brazil. Materials and Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2011 and August 2014 across 10 Brazilian cities. The data were obtained from 1,760 individuals with T1D. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics related to hypoglycemic events in the previous 4 weeks were evaluated. Results: Of 1,760 individuals evaluated, 1,319 (74.9%) reported at least one episode of hypoglycemia in the previous 4 weeks. The main factors associated with hypoglycemia were lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, better adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and higher education level. Episodes of SH were reported by 251 (19%) individuals who, compared with subjects with nonsevere hypoglycemia, received lower doses of prandial insulin and higher doses of basal insulin, in addition to reporting less frequent use of long-acting basal insulin analogs. The percentage of SH episodes was evenly distributed across all ranges of HbA1c levels, and there were no correlations between the mean number of nonsevere or severe hypoglycemic events and HbA1c values. Higher alcohol consumption and more frequent hospitalizations were independently associated with SH. Conclusion: Although individuals presenting with hypoglycemia had lower HbA1c values than those not presenting hypoglycemia, there were no correlations between the number of nonsevere hypoglycemia or SH and HbA1c values. Also, the frequency of SH was evenly distributed across all ranges of HbA1c values. Better adherence to SMBG and higher education level were associated with hypoglycemia, while alcohol consumption, higher doses of basal insulin, and more frequent hospitalizations in the previous year were associated with SH.

Influence of low free thyroxine on progression of chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes, including faster decline of kidney function. However, there is no consensus whether low free thyroxin (LFT) affects the rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline and how the presence of proteinuria influences the progression of renal dysfunction in hypothyroidism. METHODS: We assessed thyroid status, proteinuria, and progression of eGFR by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation and CKD-EPI equation in a cohort of CKD patients followed in general nephrology clinics. We estimated the association of LFT levels, and the degree of proteinuria on progression of eGFR. We adjusted for other covariables: age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, HbA1c, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels.. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred ten patients (64 ± 15 years, 46.8% men, 25.3% diabetic) were included. At beggnining of follow up eGFR was between 45 and 60, 30-45 and 15-30 ml/min/1.73m2 in 479 (29.8%), 551(34.2%), and 580(36.0%) patients, respectively. LFT levels were available at initial evaluation in 288(17.9%) patients and 735(48.5%) had assessment of proteinuria (19.6% with LFT vs. 15.4% without LFT, p = 0.032). Median follow-up time was of 21 months, and 1223(76%) had at least 1 year of follow up. Overall, eGFR decline per month was - 0.05(- 0.26, 0.23) ml/min/1.73m2, reaching 1.7(1.3, 2.4) ml/min/1.73m2 by the end of study period. Similar results were obtained using CKD-EPI. Multivariable mixed linear analysis showed that proteinuria and age were independently associated with eGFR decline, with no effect of LFT, and no interaction between proteinuria and LFT. In patients without proteinuria, there was an improvement of eGFR despite the presence of LFT. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed a faster rate of eGFR declined in patients with proteinuria. However, despite the pathophysiological rational that hypothyroidism can lead to increased rate of CKD progression, we failed to demonstrate an association between LFT and rate of CKD progression. We conclude that the benefit of hypothyroidism treatment in CKD patients needs to be evaluate in prospective studies.

New digital tool to facilitate subcutaneous insulin therapy orders: an inpatient insulin dose calculator.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients, with or without known diabetes. The adherence to American College of Endocrinology and American Diabetes Association guidelines recommendations for inpatient glycemic control is still poor, probably because of their complexity and fear of hypoglycemia. OBJECTIVE: To create software system that can assist health care providers and hospitalists to manage the insulin therapy orders and turn them into a less complicated issue. METHODS: A software system was idealized and developed, according to recommendations of major consensus and medical literature. RESULTS: HTML software was developed to be readily accessed from a workstation, tablet or smartphone. Standard initial daily total dose of insulin was 0.4 units/kg and could be modified by distinct factors, such as chronological age, renal and liver function, and high dose corticosteroids use. Insulin therapy consisted of basal, prandial and correction insulin according to nutritional support, glycemic control and outpatient treatment for diabetes. Human insulin or insulin analogues could be options for insulin therapy. Sensitivity factor was based on 1800 Rule for rapid-acting insulin and the 1500 Rule for short-acting insulin. Insulin-naïve patients with initial BG level less than 250 mg/dL were considered to have an initial step-wise approach with prandial and correction insulin. The calculator system has allowed insulin dose readjustments periodically, according to daily average blood glucose measurements. CONCLUSION: We developed software that can be a useful tool for all public hospitals, where generally human insulin is the only available.

High incidence of prostate cancer metastasis in Afro-Brazilian men with low educational levels: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated factors related to ethnicity and educational level, their correlation with tumor stage at the time of diagnosis, and their influence on treatment outcomes in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the medical records of 1,349 male patients treated for prostatic adenocarcinoma. We collected information about sociodemographic variables, including educational level and self-reported skin color. We also classified the disease according whether it was to more likely to present with metastasis and measured the tumor response to treatment. RESULTS: Less-educated (<8 years of education) individuals were 4.8 times more likely to develop metastasis than those with more education (>11 years of education; p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with a self-reported black skin color had a 300% increased risk of metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.001). Distant metastasis was independently correlated with worse outcomes, such that individuals with distant metastasis were 10 times more likely to die than were those without distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with self-reported black skin color and <8 years of education were more likely to display advanced disease at the time of diagnosis compared with their counterparts. Only the presence of metastasis was independently associated with mortality or progressive disease.