Diabetes distress in young adults with early-onset Type 1 diabetes and its prospective relationship with HbA1c and health status.

AIM: This study aimed to determine cross-sectional relationships between diabetes distress and health-related variables, and prospective associations between diabetes distress and future glycaemic control (HbA1c ) and health status among young adults with early-onset Type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Data were collected from a nationwide cohort study of adults whose Type 1 diabetes onset occurred from 0 to 4 years of age during 1993-2002. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 (N = 584). Diabetes distress was assessed via the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale (0-100 points), depressive symptoms via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and health status via the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression analyses were applied to cross-sectional and longitudinal data. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analyses, higher PAID scale total scores (representing higher distress levels) were observed in women than in men and in participants with more severe depressive symptoms. PAID scores were lower in individuals with better physical and mental health. A 1 mmol/mol increase in HbA1c was associated with a 0.28-point increase [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.20, 0.36] in diabetes distress. In longitudinal analyses adjusting for age, sex, socio-economic index and HbA1c at baseline, a 10-point higher PAID score at baseline was associated with a 1.82 mmol/mol higher HbA1c level (95% CI 0.43, 3.20) and a 2.48-point lower SF-12 mental health score (95% CI -3.55, -1.42) three years later. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses results suggest that diabetes distress impairs health-related outcomes in young adults with early-onset diabetes.

Costs of paediatric diabetes care in Germany: current situation and comparison with the year 2000.

AIMS: To estimate direct costs of paediatric Type 1 diabetes care and associated factors in Germany for the year 2007 and to compare results with the costs for the year 2000. METHODS: Our study includes clinical data and charges for any diabetes-related health care service of 14,185 continually treated subjects with paediatric diabetes aged < 20 years [52.5% male, mean age (SD) 12.1 (4.2) years], derived from a nationwide prospective patient documentation system (DPV). Health-care utilization was valued in monetary terms by using inpatient and outpatient medical fees and retail prices (perspective of the statutory health insurance). Associations between average total diabetes-related costs or various single cost categories per patient and age, sex, migration background, diabetes duration, and metabolic control were analysed by multiple regression procedures and by a two-part model for hospitalization costs. Total direct costs in the whole paediatric diabetes population in Germany were estimated. Mean costs per patient as well as total costs in the German paediatric diabetes population in 2007 were compared to 2000 costs (inflated to the year 2007). RESULTS: Mean direct diabetes-associated costs per subject were €3524 (inter-quartile range: 1831-4743). Main cost categories were hospitalization (32%), glucose self-monitoring (29%), insulin pump therapy (18%), and insulin (15%). Based on the present estimation, the total costs of paediatric diabetes care in Germany exceeded €110 million in 2007. Compared with estimates of the year 2000, average costs per patient had increased by 20% and total costs for German paediatric diabetes care by 47%. CONCLUSIONS: Direct costs for paediatric Type 1 diabetes care increased between 2000 and 2007, probably partly because of new therapeutic strategies and an increase in diabetes prevalence.

Assessment of information needs in diabetes: Development and evaluation of a questionnaire.

AIM: To develop a questionnaire suitable for assessing the information needs of individuals with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 in diverse healthcare settings (e.g. primary care or long-term care) and at different time points during the course of the disease. METHODS: The initial questionnaire was developed on the basis of literature search and analysis, reviewed by clinical experts, and evaluated in two focus groups. The revised version was pilot-tested on 39 individuals with diabetes type 2, type 1 and gestational diabetes. RESULTS: The final questionnaire reveals the most important information needs in diabetes. A choice task, a rating task and open-ended questions are combined. First, participants have to choose three topics that interest them out of a list with 12 general topics and specify in their own words their particular information needs for the chosen topics. They are then asked how informed they feel with regard to all topics (4-point Likert-scale), and whether information is currently desired (yes/no). The questionnaire ends with an open-ended question asking for additional topics of interest. CONCLUSIONS: Careful selection of topics and inclusion of open-ended questions seem to be essential prerequisites for the unbiased assessment of information needs. The questionnaire can be applied in surveys in order to examine patterns of information needs across various groups and changes during the course of the disease. Such knowledge would contribute to more patient-guided information, counselling and support.

Direct costs in impaired glucose regulation: results from the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

OBJECTIVE: For the first time, this population-based study sought to analyze healthcare utilization and associated costs in people with normal fasting glycemia (NFG), impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), as well as previously undetected diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes linking data from the prospective German Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) study with individual claims data from German statutory health insurances. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 1709 participants of the HNR 5-year follow-up (mean age (SD) 64.9 (7.5) years, 44.5% men) were included in the study. Age-standardized and sex-standardized healthcare utilization and associated costs (reported as € for the year 2008, perspective of the statutory health insurance) were stratified by diabetes stage defined by the participants' self-report and fasting plasma glucose values. Cost ratios (CRs) were estimated using two-part regression models, adjusting for age, sex, sociodemographic variables and comorbidity. RESULTS: The mean total direct healthcare costs for previously diagnosed diabetes, previously undetected diabetes, IFG, and NFG were €2761 (95% CI 2378 to 3268), €2210 (1483 to 4279), €2035 (1732 to 2486) and €1810 (1634 to 2035), respectively. Corresponding age-adjusted and sex-adjusted CRs were 1.53 (1.30 to 1.80), 1.16 (0.91 to 1.47), and 1.09 (0.95 to 1.25) (reference: NFG). Inpatient, outpatient and medication costs varied in order between people with IFG and those with previously undetected diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides claims-based detailed cost data in well-defined glucose metabolism subgroups. CRs of individuals with IFG and previously undetected diabetes were surprisingly low. Data are important for the model-based evaluation of screening programs and interventions that are aimed either to prevent diabetes onset or to improve diabetes therapy as well.

Medication costs by glucose tolerance stage in younger and older women and men: results from the population-based KORA survey in Germany.

To estimate medication costs in individuals with diagnosed diabetes, undetected diabetes, impaired glucose regulation and normal blood glucose values in a population-based sample by age and sex.Using the KORA F4 follow-up survey, conducted in 2006-2008 (n=2611, age 40-82 years), we identified individuals' glucose tolerance status by means of an oral glucose tolerance test. We assessed all medications taken regularly, calculated age-sex specific medication costs and estimated cost ratios for total, total without antihyperglycemic drugs, and cardiovascular medication, using multiple 2-part regression models.Compared to individuals with normal glucose values, costs were increased in known diabetes, undetected diabetes and impaired glucose regulation, which was more pronounced in participants aged 40-59 years than in those aged 60-82 years (cost ratios for all medications: 40-59 years: 2.85; 95%-confidence interval: 1.78-4.54, 2.00; 1.22-3.29 and 1.53; 1.12-2.09; 60-82 years: 2.04; 1.71-2.43, 1.17; 0.90-1.51 and 1.09; 0.94-1.28). Compared to individuals with diagnosed diabetes, costs were significantly lower among individuals with impaired glucose regulation across all age and sex strata, also when antihyperglycemic medication was excluded (40-59 years: 0.60; 0.36-0.98, 60-82 years: 0.74; 0.60-0.90; men: 0.72; 0.56-0.93; women: 0.72; 0.54-0.96).We could quantify age- and sex-specific medication costs and cost ratios in individuals with diagnosed diabetes, undetected diabetes and impaired glucose regulation compared to those with normal glucose values, using data of a population-based sample, with oral glucose tolerance test-based identification of diabetes states. These results may help to validly estimate cost-effectiveness of screening and early treatment or prevention of diabetes.

Inpatient and outpatient health care utilization of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and after introduction of DRGs.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency and length of hospital stays as well as the frequency of diabetes-associated outpatient visits of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and after the introduction of DRGs (diagnosis-related groups) in German hospitals. METHODS: For this prospective cohort study, data from 2000 (before introduction of DRGs) to 2008 (after introduction) was extracted from the German diabetes documentation software DPV. Incidence rates of hospitalizations, length of hospital stays as well as the incidence rates of outpatient visits of 21,502 children and adolescents were estimated. The associations between the target parameters and DRG introduction, age, sex, diabetes duration, calendar year and migration background were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: Incidence of hospitalization was 0.45 (95% CI 0.44-0.45) per person-year (PY), mean number of hospital days 2.77/PY (95% CI: 2.76-2.79). Children had 5.3 (95% CI: 5.3-5.3) outpatient visits per PY on average. The number of hospital stays, inpatient days, and outpatient visits decreased significantly between 2000 and 2008. Time of introduction of DRGs was related to a significant rise in the number of hospital stays and outpatient visits (p<0.05). There was no significant relation to the number of hospital days. Compared with children younger than eleven years of age, 11- to 14-year-old children had significantly more, adolescents older than 14 years significantly less hospital stays (RR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.14-1.23 and 0.92, 95%, CI: 0.87-0.97, respectively). Migration background was significantly associated with worse results for all analyzed target variables (RR 1.21 for hospital stays, 1.26 for hospital days, 1.07 number of outpatient visits). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of DRGs in the care of patients with pediatric diabetes mellitus resulted in a leveling of the reduction of the number of outpatient visits and hospital stays. Especially adolescents at the age of puberty and patients from families with migration background seem to require particular attention in health care.