Survey of Spanish hospitals on diabetes care resources.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of diabetes care varies from region to region. The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of care in different hospitals in Spain through a specific survey assessing different aspects of care for both children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional observational voluntary survey study, sent to the heads of the Endocrinology and Pediatric Endocrinology Departments or Units in public hospitals with more than 150 beds, during the first semester of 2021. A total of 105 responses were obtained, 55.5% of the 189 requested, which corresponded to a population served of 31,782,409 people, representing almost 80% of the total population served. RESULTS: Patients with diabetes under 15 years of age are cared for by Pediatric Departments, but only 58% of them have a specific Diabetes Education Unit for children, and in 72% of the cases, there is one single nurse dedicated to these tasks, and not always full-time. Those over 15 years of age are attended by specialists in Endocrinology and Nutrition in 94.3 % of hospitals. There are Therapeutic Education Units in Diabetes in practically all hospitals (94.3%). However, Diabetes Day Hospitals exist in only 32 centres and cover 40.3% of the population, since in 22 provinces there are none. Virtual and telematic consultations, as well as retinography, are available in more than 70% of cases, but access to a Diabetic Foot Unit only in 54% of centres. Monographic technological consultations on diabetes have become widespread, but access to mental health specialists with diabetes training remains limited (24% of centres), and interdisciplinary (32%) or interlevel (12%) committees are very scarce. CONCLUSION: Diabetes care in Spain shows great variability from one region to another, and some deficiencies have been detected that affect a large part of the population, such as access to Diabetic Foot Units, as well as mental health specialists with specific training. The presence of multidisciplinary and mixed committees between levels of care remains scarce.

[Cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes mellitus in Spain according to the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP) in 2017]. / Enfermedades cardiovasculares en personas con diabetes mellitus en España según la Base de Datos Clínicos de Atención Primaria (BDCAP) en 2017.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. The objective of this work is to know the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and heart failure in people diagnosed with diabetes in Spain during 2017 and compare them with those not diagnosed with diabetes according to age and sex. METHODS: Data for diagnoses of diabetes mellitus (DM), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD) or heart failure (HF) for 2017 were obtained from the National Health System's Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP). RESULTS: Comparing people with diabetes and people without diabetes over 35 years of age, the Odds Ratio (OR) for being diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease or heart failure is about 2 in those over 64 years of age and more than 4 in patients under that age. This OR is superior in females versus males for all diagnoses apart from peripheral artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the high cardiovascular comorbidity of patients with diabetes in Spain, with a greater excess of risk in patients under 65 years of age, more pronounced in women. We should offer more intensive treatment for DM2 in women.

Correlation between glucose measurement parameters of continuous flash monitoring and HbA1c. Real life experience in Asturias.

INTRODUCTION: Despite continuous glucose monitoring having been proven useful in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, A1C remains the gold standard for assessing disease management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective study which included 252 patients, 40.5% male, mean age 44.91±14.57 years, mean duration of diabetes 22.21±13.12 years, 88.1% on basal-bolus insulin therapy and 11.9% users of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Glucose measurement, analytical and anthropometric data were obtained. RESULTS: The mean time in range was 60.18±15.60% and was associated with A1C after adjusting for age, gender, duration of diabetes, BMI, insulin regimen, %CV and time below range (ß: -0.548; p<0.01). The glucose management indicator (GMI) was 7.19±0.69% and was also associated with A1C (ß: 0.957; p<0.01) regardless of age, gender, duration of diabetes, BMI, insulin treatment, %CV and time in range. The average difference between A1C and GMI was 0.17±0.65% (-2.70-3.40%), being higher as A1C increased, in a linear and significant manner, without being influenced by the duration of diabetes or CV. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found a positive correlation between continuous glucose monitoring glucose measurement parameters and A1C, there is still not enough evidence to replace one parameter with another.

Classification of follicular-patterned thyroid lesions using a minimal set of epigenetic biomarkers.

Objective: The minimally invasive fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid nodule malignancy. However, the correct discrimination of follicular neoplasia often requires more invasive diagnostic techniques. The lack of suitable immunohistochemical markers to distinguish between follicular thyroid carcinoma and other types of follicular-derived lesions complicates diagnosis, and despite most of these tumours being surgically resected, only a small number will test positive for malignancy. As such, the development of new orthogonal diagnostic approaches may improve the accuracy of diagnosing thyroid nodules. Design: This study includes a retrospective, multi-centre training cohort including 54 fresh-frozen follicular-patterned thyroid samples and two independent, multi-centre validation cohorts of 103 snap-frozen biopsies and 33 FNAC samples, respectively. Methods: We performed a genome-wide genetic and epigenetic profiling of 54 fresh-frozen follicular-patterned thyroid samples using exome sequencing and the Illumina Human DNA Methylation EPIC platform. An extensive validation was performed using the bisulfite pyrosequencing technique. Results: Using a random forest approach, we developed a three-CpG marker-based diagnostic model that was subsequently validated using bisulfite pyrosequencing experiments. According to the validation cohort, this cost-effective method discriminates between benign and malignant nodules with a sensitivity and specificity of 97 and 88%, respectively (positive predictive value (PPV): 0.85, negative predictive value (NPV): 0.98). Conclusions: Our classification system based on a minimal set of epigenetic biomarkers can complement the potential of the diagnostic techniques currently available and would prioritize a considerable number of surgical interventions that are often performed due to uncertain cytology. Significance statement: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with thyroid nodules. The current challenge is their etiological diagnosis to discount malignancy without resorting to thyroidectomy. The method proposed here, based on DNA pyrosequencing assays, has high sensitivity (0.97) and specificity (0.88) for the identification of malignant thyroid nodules. This simple and cost-effective approach can complement expert pathologist evaluation to prioritize the classification of difficult-to-diagnose follicular-patterned thyroid lesions and track tumor evolution, including real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy, thereby stimulating adherence to health promotion programs.

Estimation of body fat mass using the CUN-BAE index and mortality risk by sex in the Asturias Study cohort. / Estimación de grasa corporal según ecuación CUN-BAE e IMC y riesgo de mortalidad por sexos en la cohorte del Estudio Asturias.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In epidemiological studies, excess body fat (BF) has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, some types of cancer, and other causes of death. A new anthropometric method has been defined: The CUN-BAE index (University of Navarra Clinic-Body Fat Estimator), which is based on BMI, sex, and age. BMI and CUN-BAE index were used to assess their contribution to mortality risk from any cause in the Asturias Study cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Asturias study is a cohort study including 1.034 individuals aged 30-75years who participated in the first study phase (1998-1999). The study included a clinical survey, physical examination, and an oral glucose tolerance test. Vital status was determined in the cohort after 18years of follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred and four subjects died: 93 females and 111 males (16.6% and 23.5% respectively men). Baseline values of both BMI and %BF suggesting obesity (BMI>30kg/m2 and CUN-BAE >25% in males and >35% in females) were found in most subjects. After adjusting for T2DM, HBP, CVD, and tobacco, the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher as CUN-BAE increased, especially in females. CONCLUSIONS: The CUN-BAE equation is a useful tool, especially in females, to detect those who will have a greater risk of mortality, regardless of cardiovascular risk factors.

Experience after switching from insulin glargine U100 to glargine U300 in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A study after one year of treatment in real life. / Experiencia tras el cambio de insulina glargina U100 a glargina U300 en pacientes con diabetes tipo 1. Estudio tras un año de tratamiento en vida real.

INTRODUCTION: Current treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) does not always achieve metabolic control because, among other things, the ocurrence of hypoglycemic events associated to insulin use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive real life study of 247 T1DM patients, 55.5% male, aged 46.53 ± 16.23 years, and with a mean diabetes duration of 21.89 ± 11.99 years, who were switched from basal insulin glargine U100 to glargine U300. The primary endpoints were changes in Hba1c and number of hypoglycemic events, while secondary endpoints included changes in weight and insulin dose after 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: After one year, no changes were seen in HbA1c, but the proportion of patients with HbA1c values <7.5% increased at 6 months (33.5 vs. 40.5%; P<0.05) and remained stable during one year of follow-up. Hypoglycemic events significantly decreased after one year of treatment in patients with previous hypoglycemic events. No changes were seen in body weight. Total insulin dose (U/kg) increased 7.24% at 6 months of treatment and by 8.69% at one year, mainly due to basal insulin. No changes were seen between the doses given at 6 and 12 months. These changes were similar in the different metabolic control groups and in patients with or without hypoglycemia. This increase was not related with prior basal insulin dose, baseline HbA1c level, number of hypoglycemic events or baseline weight. DISCUSSION: Glargine U300 is a good basal insulin alternative to treat T1DM, improving metabolic control in patients with HbA1c levels >7,5 and decreasing hypoglycemic events in patients with history of hypoglycemia without increasing body weight.

[Metabolic control and weight loss in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, treated with exenatide]. / Control metabólico y pérdida de peso en pacientes con obesidad y diabetes mellitus tipo 2 tratados con exenatida.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Exenatide is an analogue of GLP1 designed to improve the glycemic control in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. It may control other metabolic processes as well. We aimed to evaluate whether exenatide helps to achieve metabolic control goals in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after 24 weeks of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Open clinical trial in 102 obese patients, with age between 19-77 years (mean [ED] 53,2 [1,1] years), T2DM with mean evolution of 4,88 [0,5] years (range 1 to 20 years) with oral antidiabetic treatment. RESULTS: There was a reduction of 19.7±7.1mg/dl in the fasting glucose average and of 0.33±0.17% in glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)). These last values were higher (2.12±0.53%) in patients with bad control prior to treatment (HbA(1c)>8.5%). The desirable threshold of HbA(1c)<7% was fulfilled by 14% more treated than control patients (43.6 vs. 57.9, P<.05). Reductions of 4.4±0.8kg average weight and of 1.7±0.3kg/m(2) body mass index were recorded. Although there was not a significant reduction in the overall lipid profile, a decrease of 4.9±5.1mg/dl total cholesterol, 3.2±4.3mg/dl LDL-C, 8.6±5.6mg/dl noHDL-C and 2.5±1, 4mg/dl HDL-C was observed. Patients outside target (LDL>100 and/or triglycerides>150mg/dl) showed significant differences in their concentrations of LDL-C and triglycerides. With respect to blood pressure (BP), significant differences were observed in diastolic BP (-18.9±5.7mmHg) but not in systolic BP (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exenatide is an effective drug not only for glycemic control but also for the overall metabolic control of HbA(1c), lipid profile, BP and body weight.