Mortality trends in type 1 diabetes: a multicountry analysis of six population-based cohorts.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Mortality has declined in people with type 1 diabetes in recent decades. We examined how the pattern of decline differs by country, age and sex, and how mortality trends in type 1 diabetes relate to trends in general population mortality. METHODS: We assembled aggregate data on all-cause mortality during the period 2000-2016 in people with type 1 diabetes aged 0-79 years from Australia, Denmark, Latvia, Scotland, Spain (Catalonia) and the USA (Kaiser Permanente Northwest). Data were obtained from administrative sources, health insurance records and registries. All-cause mortality rates in people with type 1 diabetes, and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) comparing type 1 diabetes with the non-diabetic population, were modelled using Poisson regression, with age and calendar time as quantitative variables, describing the effects using restricted cubic splines with six knots for age and calendar time. Mortality rates were standardised to the age distribution of the aggregate population with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS: All six data sources showed a decline in age- and sex-standardised all-cause mortality rates in people with type 1 diabetes from 2000 to 2016 (or a subset thereof), with annual changes in mortality rates ranging from -2.1% (95% CI -2.8%, -1.3%) to -5.8% (95% CI -6.5%, -5.1%). All-cause mortality was higher for male individuals and for older individuals, but the rate of decline in mortality was generally unaffected by sex or age. SMR was higher in female individuals than male individuals, and appeared to peak at ages 40-70 years. SMR declined over time in Denmark, Scotland and Spain, while remaining stable in the other three data sources. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: All-cause mortality in people with type 1 diabetes has declined in recent years in most included populations, but improvements in mortality relative to the non-diabetic population are less consistent.

Confirming diagnoses of acute pancreatitis with commonly available electronic data.

BACKGROUND: Recorded diagnoses of acute pancreatitis (AP) are often inaccurate resulting in limited utility for case identification in large data sources, especially where electronic medical records (EMR) are not available. Our objectives were to validate diagnoses of AP and to identify an algorithm using additional data to enhance the identification of AP cases in different data sources. METHODS: We randomly sampled 550 persons with an AP diagnosis from inpatient data or outpatient or emergency department diagnoses immediately preceding a hospitalization and 150 negative controls with a differential diagnosis (cholangitis or cholecystitis). We conducted an EMR review to confirm cases of AP and used logistic regression to develop EMR-based and claims-based algorithms to identify confirmed AP cases with variables typically available in electronic data sources. Algorithm performance was assessed using the C statistic, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. RESULTS: Of the 550 patients with an AP diagnosis, 467 (84.9%) were confirmed cases. An AP diagnosis alone had high sensitivity (98.9%), modest specificity (63.6%), and a C statistic of 0.813. An EMR-based model using an AP diagnosis, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 , a serum lipase >3 times upper limit of normal and diabetes attained a C-statistic of 0.914. A claims-based model attained a C-statistic of 0.892 using an AP diagnosis and dichotomous variables for whether a serum lipase test and/or an abdominal ultrasound was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Our simple algorithms increased the accuracy of identification of AP cases providing widespread applicability to epidemiological and drug safety studies.

Health Care Costs by Type of Expenditure across eGFR Stages among Patients with and without Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: CKD is associated with higher health care costs that increase with disease progression. However, research is lacking on the type of health care costs associated with CKD across all stages in a general population with a substantial comorbidity burden. METHODS: Using electronic medical records of an integrated delivery system, we evaluated health care costs by expenditure type in general and in patients with CKD by eGFR and presence of comorbidities. We categorized 146,132 patients with eGFR data in 2016 or 2017 and examined nonmutually exclusive groups according to presence of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, or heart failure. We used 1 year of follow-up data to calculate outpatient, inpatient, emergency, pharmaceutical, dialysis, and total health care costs by eGFR (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes-defined eGFR categories), adjusted for age, sex, and nonwhite race. RESULTS: Mean total health care costs among patients with CKD without comorbidities were 31% higher than among patients without CKD ($7374 versus $5631, respectively). Hospitalizations accounted for 35% of total costs among those with CKD and no comorbidities but up to 55% among patients with CKD and heart failure. The proportion of costs attributable to hospitalizations accelerated with declining kidney function, reaching as high as 66%. CONCLUSIONS: Poorer kidney function and the presence of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, or heart failure drive substantial health care costs and increase the proportion of costs attributable to inpatient care. The large contribution of inpatient costs begins in earlier stages of CKD and escalates as kidney function declines. Additional therapies to reduce CKD incidence, slow CKD progression, and lower hospitalization risk are needed to benefit patients and reduce CKD's economic burden.

Predictors of Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia in Individuals with Diabetes: a Classification and Regression Tree Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and are associated with increased mortality. Information on the predictors of potassium in individuals with diabetes in routine clinical practice is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia in adults with diabetes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, with classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 321,856 individuals with diabetes enrolled in four large integrated health care systems from 2012 to 2013. MAIN MEASURES: We used a single serum potassium result collected in 2012 or 2013. Hyperkalemia was defined as a serum potassium ≥ 5.5 mEq/L and hypokalemia as < 3.5 mEq/L. Predictors included demographic factors, laboratory measurements, comorbidities, medication use, and health care utilization. KEY RESULTS: There were 2556 hypokalemia events (0.8%) and 1517 hyperkalemia events (0.5%). In univariate analyses, we identified concordant predictors (associated with increased probability of both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia), discordant predictors, and predictors of only hyperkalemia or hypokalemia. In CART models, the hyperkalemia "tree" had 5 nodes and a c-statistic of 0.76. The nodes were defined by prior potassium results and eGFRs, and the 5 terminal "leaves" had hyperkalemia probabilities of 0.2 to 7.2%. The hypokalemia tree had 4 nodes and a c-statistic of 0.76. The hypokalemia tree included nodes defined by prior potassium results, and the 4 terminal leaves had hypokalemia probabilities of 0.3 to 17.6%. Individuals with a recent potassium between 4.0 and 5.0 mEq/L, eGFR ≥ 45 mL/min/1.73m2, and no hypokalemia in the previous year had a < 1% rate of either hypokalemia or hyperkalemia. CONCLUSIONS: The yield of routine serum potassium testing may be low in individuals with a recent serum potassium between 4.0 and 5.0 mEq/L, eGFR ≥ 45 mL/min/1.73m2, and no recent history of hypokalemia. We did not examine the effect of recent changes in clinical condition or medications on acute potassium changes.

Risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia: A review of real-world evidence.

AIMS: To describe the real-world prevalence and consequences of hypertriglyceridaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched two large patient databases, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2007-2014) and the Optum Research Database, as well as electronic medical records from two Kaiser Permanente regions. RESULTS: The NHANES data showed that ~26% of US adults, including nearly one-third of statin users, had at least borderline hypertriglyceridaemia (triglycerides [TGs] ≥1.69 mmol/L), and ~40% of adults with diabetes had levels of ≥150 mg/dL despite statin use. The Optum analyses demonstrated that those with TG levels ≥1.69 mmol/L who were on statins had a significantly increased risk of composite initial major cardiovascular (CV) events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.34; P < 0.001 vs. patients with TGs <150 mg/dL). This was accompanied by increased healthcare utilization and direct healthcare costs (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.16; P < 0.001). In the analyses of the Kaiser Permanente records, patients with diabetes and TG levels 2.26-5.64 mmol/L had significantly higher adjusted incidence rates of non-fatal myocardial infarction (rate ratio 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.58; P = 0.006), non-fatal stroke (rate ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.49; P = 0.037) and coronary revascularization (rate ratio 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.43; P = 0.027), but not unstable angina (rate ratio 1.33; 95% CI 0.87-2.03; P = 0.185) compared with patients with TG levels <1.69 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world analyses suggest that elevated TGs are prevalent and commonly associated with increased CV risk. CV outcomes trials in patients with established hypertriglyceridaemia will clarify whether strategies to reduce TG levels can ameliorate residual CV risk in patients taking statins.

The association between heart failure hospitalization and self-reported domains of health.

BACKGROUND: We compared self-reported domains of health between patients who with vs. without a recent heart failure (HF) hospitalization. METHODS: We fielded a 59-item questionnaire that included the 12-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) to age/sex-matched groups of 2000 HF patients who had and had not had a recent HF hospitalization. We entered questionnaire responses and electronic medical record data into multivariable logistic regression models to identify independent associations with a HF hospitalization. RESULTS: After two mailings, we received 468 completed questionnaires for response rate of 23.4%. Patients with a recent HF hospitalization had significantly lower scores on the KCCQ-12 Quality of Life (52.6 vs. 59.6, p = 0.016) and Social Limitations (48.4 vs. 55.5, p = 0.009) scales as well as the Clinical Summary Scale (50.8 vs. 55.3, p = 0.048) and Total KCCQ-12 score (49.6 vs. 56.8, p = 0.003). In sequential logistic regression models designed to achieve parsimony, Total KCCQ was a strong predictor of being in the recent hospitalization group. When using the KCCQ-12 sub-scales, the Social Limitations scale was a strong predictor of being in the recent hospitalization group. CONCLUSIONS: After accounting for comorbidities and other risk factors, a HF hospitalization appears to profoundly limit social activities which can increase the risk of poor outcomes.

Kidney disease progression and all-cause mortality across estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria categories among patients with vs. without type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Studies of progression of kidney dysfunction typically focus on renal replacement therapy or percentage decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as outcomes. Our aim was to compare real-world patients with and without T2D to estimate progression from and to clinically defined categories of kidney disease and all-cause mortality. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study of 31,931 patients with and 33,201 age/sex matched patients without type 2 diabetes (T2D) who had a serum creatinine and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) or dipstick proteinuria (DP) values. We used the first available serum creatinine value between 2006 and 2012 to calculate baseline eGFR and categorized them and the corresponding UACR/DP values using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) categories. To assess our primary outcomes, we extracted probabilities of eGFR progression or mortality from life-table analyses and conducted multivariable Cox regression analyses of relative risk adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and use of renal-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. RESULTS: Patterns of eGFR decline were comparable among patients with vs. without T2D with larger percentage declines at higher albuminuria levels across all eGFR categories. eGFR decline was generally larger among T2D patients, particularly in those with severely increased albuminuria. Across all CKD categories, risk of progression to the next higher category of eGFR was substantially increased with increasing albuminuria. For example, the risk was 23.5, 36.2, and 65.1% among T2D patients with eGFR 30-59 ml/min/1.73m2 and UACR < 30, 30-299, and > 300 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). Other comparisons were similarly significant. Among patients with low eGFR and normal to mildly increased albuminuria, the relative risk was up to 8-fold greater for all-cause mortality compared with the non-CKD subgroup (eGFR> 60 ml/min/1.73m2 with normal to mildly increased albuminuria). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of albuminuria was associated with accelerated eGFR decline independent of T2D. Risk for adverse outcomes was remarkably high among patients with CKD and normal to mildly increased albuminuria levels. Independent of T2D or albuminuria, a substantial risk for adverse outcomes exists for CKD patients in a routine care setting.

Correction to: Kidney disease progression and all-cause mortality across estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria categories among patients with vs. without type 2 diabetes.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Delays in anti-hyperglycaemic therapy initiation and intensification are associated with cardiovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure and all-cause mortality.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to assess the impact of delays in treatment intensification (TI) on cardiovascular events, heart failure, and all-cause mortality at typical stages of anti-hyperglycaemic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using electronic health record data, we created three TI cohorts of diabetes patients who: 1) initiated metformin (MET) as their first anti-hyperglycaemic therapy; 2) added a sulfonylurea (SU) to MET; and 3) initiated insulin (INS) while using MET or SU, alone or in combination. Primary exposure variables were haemoglobin A1C value preceding cohort therapy (pre-TI A1C) and time to intensification, that is, the time between pre-TI A1C >7% and cohort index date. Cox regression models were used to analyse the associated risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In the MET cohort, each additional percentage point of pre-TI A1C was associated with a 10% increased risk of a CV event (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.07; P = 0.004), a 7% increased risk of HF hospitalization (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; P = 0.034) and a 7% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; P = 0.032). Pre-TI A1C was associated with a 9% increased risk of a CV event in the INS cohort (HR,1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.13; P < 0.001). Each month of delay in TI was significantly associated with a 6% increased risk of hospitalization for HF (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.13; P = 0.040) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.13; P = 0.050) in the MET cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Delays in TI were associated with poor outcomes over a mean follow-up period of nearly five years. Earlier initiation and more rapid intensification of pharmacotherapy could reduce the risk of poor outcomes.

Increased residual cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes and high versus normal triglycerides despite statin-controlled LDL cholesterol.

AIM: To determine whether high triglycerides (TG) in the presence of statin-controlled LDL-C influence the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with diabetes in real-world clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified adults with diabetes from the Southern California and Pacific Northwest regions of Kaiser Permanente. We included patients undergoing statin therapy with LDL-C from 40-100 mg/dL who were not undergoing other lipid-lowering therapies and had a prior diagnosis of atherosclerotic CVD or at least one other CVD risk factor. We grouped patients into high TG (200-499 mg/dL; n = 5542) or normal TG (<150 mg/dL, n = 22 411) from January 2010 through December 2016 to compare incidence rates and rate ratios of first non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal stroke, unstable angina and coronary revascularization. We adjusted multivariable analyses for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, blood pressure, HbA1c, serum creatinine, presence of ischaemic heart disease and study site. RESULTS: Adjusted rate ratios for the four outcomes were all statistically significantly different. The incidence rate for non-fatal MI was 30% higher in the high TG group (rate ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.58; P = 0.006). The rate was 23% higher for non-fatal stroke (1.23, 1.01-1.49, P = 0.037), 21% higher for coronary revascularization (rate ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.43; P = 0.027) and was, non-significantly, 33% higher for unstable angina (rate ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.87-2.03; P = 0.185). CONCLUSIONS: Despite statin-controlled LDL-C levels, CV events were greater among patients with diabetes and high TG levels. Because we controlled for cardiometabolic risk factors, it is likely that the difference in TG levels contributed to the excess risk observed in patients with high TGs.

Left-ventricular geometry and risk of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with preserved or moderately reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction.

AIMS: The majority of sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) occur in patients with left-ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) >35%, yet there are no methods for effective risk stratification in this sub-group. Since abnormalities of LV geometry can be identified even with preserved LVEF, we investigated the potential impact of LV geometry as a novel risk marker for this patient population. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study, SCA cases with archived echocardiographic data available were prospectively identified during 2002-15, and compared with geographical controls. Analysis was restricted to subjects with LVEF >35%. Based on established measures of LV mass and relative wall thickness (ratio of wall thickness to cavity diameter), four different LV geometric patterns were identified: normal geometry, concentric remodelling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy. Sudden cardiac arrest cases (n = 307) and controls (n = 280) did not differ in age, sex, or LVEF, but increased LV mass was more common in cases. Twenty-nine percent of SCA cases presented with normal LV geometry, 35% had concentric remodelling, 25% concentric hypertrophy, and 11% eccentric hypertrophy. In multivariate model, concentric remodelling (OR 1.76; 95%CI 1.18-2.63; P = 0.005), concentric hypertrophy (OR 3.20; 95%CI 1.90-5.39; P < 0.001), and eccentric hypertrophy (OR 2.47; 95%CI 1.30-4.66; P = 0.006) were associated with increased risk of SCA. CONCLUSION: Concentric and eccentric LV hypertrophy, but also concentric remodelling without hypertrophy, are associated with increased risk of SCA. These novel findings suggest the potential utility of evaluating LV geometry as a potential risk stratification tool in patients with preserved or moderately reduced LVEF.

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among 1.3 Million Adults With Overweight or Obesity, but Not Diabetes, in 10 Geographically Diverse Regions of the United States, 2012-2013.

INTRODUCTION: Various phenotypes of overweight and obesity pose various health risks. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of 4 commonly measured cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) among adults with overweight or obesity, but not diabetes, at the time of the study. METHODS: We analyzed data for 1,294,174 adults (aged ≥20 y) who were members of one of 4 integrated health systems. Each cohort member had a body mass index in 2012 or 2013 that indicated overweight or obesity. We determined the presence of 4 CRFs within 1 year of the first BMI measurement: elevated blood pressure (systolic ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic >85 mm Hg or ICD-9-CM [International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification] diagnosis code 401.0-405.9); elevated triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL or ICD-9-CM 272.1); low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40 mg/dL for men or <50 mg/dL for women or ICD-9-CM 272.5); and prediabetes (fasting glucose 100-125 mg/dL or HbA1c 5.7%-6.4% or ICD-9-CM 790.2x). We tested the risk of having 1 or more CRFs after adjusting for obesity class and demographic characteristics with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among participants with overweight (52.5% of the sample), 18.6% had none of the 4 CRFs. Among the 47.5% of participants with obesity, 9.6% had none; among participants with morbid obesity, 5.8% had none. Age was strongly associated with CRFs in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Almost 10% of participants with obesity had no CRFs. Overweight or obesity increases cardiometabolic risk, but the number and type of CRFs varied substantially by age, even among participants with morbid obesity.

Distinctive Clinical Profile of Blacks Versus Whites Presenting With Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a major contributor to mortality, but data are limited among nonwhites. Identification of differences in clinical profile based on race may provide opportunities for improved SCA prevention. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (SUDS), individuals experiencing SCA in the Portland, OR, metropolitan area were identified prospectively. Patient demographics, arrest circumstances, and pre-SCA clinical profile were compared by race among cases from 2002 to 2012 (for clinical history, n=126 blacks, n=1262 whites). Incidence rates were calculated for cases from the burden assessment phase (2002-2005; n=1077). Age-adjusted rates were 2-fold higher among black men and women (175 and 90 per 100 000, respectively) compared with white men and women (84 and 40 per 100 000, respectively). Compared with whites, blacks were >6 years younger at the time of SCA and had a higher prearrest prevalence of diabetes mellitus (52% versus 33%; P<0.0001), hypertension (77% versus 65%; P=0.006), and chronic renal insufficiency (34% versus 19%; P<0.0001). There were no racial differences in previously documented coronary artery disease or left ventricular dysfunction, but blacks had more prevalent congestive heart failure (43% versus 34%; P=0.04) and left ventricular hypertrophy (77% versus 58%; P=0.02) and a longer QTc interval (466±36 versus 453±41 milliseconds; P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this US community, the burden of SCA was significantly higher in blacks compared with whites. Blacks with SCA had a higher prearrest prevalence of risk factors beyond established coronary artery disease, providing potential targets for race-specific prevention.

The High Prevalence of Diabetes in a Large Cohort of Patients Drawn From Safety Net Clinics.

INTRODUCTION: Underserved populations have been overlooked or underrepresented in research based on data from diabetes registries. We estimated diabetes prevalence using a cohort developed from the electronic health records of 3 networks of safety net clinics that provide care to underserved populations. METHODS: ADVANCE (Accelerating Data Value Across a National Community Health Center Network) is a partnership of the OCHIN Community Health Information Network (OCHIN), the Health Choice Network (HCN), and the Fenway Health Institute (FHI), representing 97 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and 744 clinic sites in 22 US states. Among 952,316 adults with a body mass index (BMI) measurement and at least 2 outpatient visits in 2012 to 2014, we calculated diabetes prevalence using outpatient diagnoses, diagnostic laboratory results, or dispenses of anti-hyperglycemic agents no more than 730 days apart. We calculated prevalence by age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, and BMI class. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of diabetes was 14.4%. Men had a higher prevalence than women (16.5% vs 13.2%); diabetes prevalence increased across age categories. White patients had the lowest prevalence (11.4%) and Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, the highest prevalence (21.9%), with prevalence ranging from 15.2% to 16.5% for other race/ethnicities. The association between BMI class and diabetes prevalence was similar across all racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: The ADVANCE diabetes cohort offers an opportunity to conduct epidemiologic and comparative effectiveness research on underserved and underrepresented individuals, who have a higher prevalence of diabetes than the general US population.

Trends in diabetes incidence among 7 million insured adults, 2006-2011: the SUPREME-DM project.

An observational cohort analysis was conducted within the Surveillance, Prevention, and Management of Diabetes Mellitus (SUPREME-DM) DataLink, a consortium of 11 integrated health-care delivery systems with electronic health records in 10 US states. Among nearly 7 million adults aged 20 years or older, we estimated annual diabetes incidence per 1,000 persons overall and by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index. We identified 289,050 incident cases of diabetes. Age- and sex-adjusted population incidence was stable between 2006 and 2010, ranging from 10.3 per 1,000 adults (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.8, 10.7) to 11.3 per 1,000 adults (95% CI: 11.0, 11.7). Adjusted incidence was significantly higher in 2011 (11.5, 95% CI: 10.9, 12.0) than in the 2 years with the lowest incidence. A similar pattern was observed in most prespecified subgroups, but only the differences for persons who were not white were significant. In 2006, 56% of incident cases had a glycated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c) test as one of the pair of events identifying diabetes. By 2011, that number was 74%. In conclusion, overall diabetes incidence in this population did not significantly increase between 2006 and 2010, but increases in hemoglobin A1c testing may have contributed to rising diabetes incidence among nonwhites in 2011.

Health care system-level factors associated with performance on Medicare STAR adherence metrics in a large, integrated delivery system.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide significant incentives to health plans that score well on Medicare STAR metrics for cardiovascular disease risk factor medication adherence. Information on modifiable health system-level predictors of adherence can help clinicians and health plans develop strategies for improving Medicare STAR scores, and potentially improve cardiovascular disease outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of Medicare STAR adherence metrics with system-level factors. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 129,040 diabetes patients aged 65 years and above in 2010 from 3 Kaiser Permanente regions. MEASURES: Adherence to antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, and oral antihyperglycemic medications in 2010, defined by Medicare STAR as the proportion of days covered ≥ 80%. RESULTS: After controlling for individual-level factors, the strongest predictor of achieving STAR-defined medication adherence was a mean prescribed medication days' supply of > 90 days (RR=1.61 for antihypertensives, oral antihyperglycemics, and statins; all P < 0.001). Using mail order pharmacy to fill medications > 50% of the time was independently associated with better adherence with these medications (RR = 1.07, 1.06, 1.07; P < 0.001); mail order use had an increased positive association among black and Hispanic patients. Medication copayments ≤ $10 for 30 days' supply (RR = 1.02, 1.02, 1.02; P < 0.01) and annual individual out-of-pocket maximums ≤ $2000 (RR = 1.02, 1.01, 1.02; P < 0.01) were also significantly associated with higher adherence for all 3 therapeutic groupings. CONCLUSIONS: Greater medication days' supply and mail order pharmacy use, and lower copayments and out-of-pocket maximums, are associated with better Medicare STAR adherence. Initiatives to improve adherence should focus on modifiable health system-level barriers to obtaining evidence-based medications.

Intensification of antihyperglycemic therapy among patients with incident diabetes: a Surveillance Prevention and Management of Diabetes Mellitus (SUPREME-DM) study.

PURPOSE: Antihyperglycemic medication intensification practices among patients with incident diabetes are incompletely understood. We characterized the first intensification the year after oral antihyperglycemic medication initiation among incident diabetes patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study across 11 US health systems included adults identified with incident diabetes between 2005 and 2009 who started oral antihyperglycemic monotherapy or combination therapy within 6 months after diabetes identification. We determined intensification, defined as increased index medication dosage, addition of another oral medication, or switch to/addition of insulin 31-365 days after initial antihyperglycemic dispensing. Cox regression was used to assess intensification for patient, temporal, and system covariates, adjusting for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a time-dependent variable. RESULTS: Among 41,233 patients, 33.5% and 45.3% had treatment intensified within 6 and 12 months, respectively. This first intensification was most often with increased index medication dosage (78%), least often with insulin (<1%). HbA1c% was strongly associated with intensification (adjusted hazard ratios [HR] 1.59, 3.62, 4.44, and 5.52 for HbA1c 6.5% to <7%, 7% to <7.5%, 7.5 to <8%, and ≥8%, respectively, all P < 0.001, compared with HbA1c < 6.5%). In patients initially on monotherapy, age modified the HbA1c effect: at HbA1c < 7%, the HR differed little between middle-aged and older patients; at HbA1c ≥ 7%, the HR decreased with older age (e.g., age 40-49 years and HbA1c ≥ 8%: HR 8.14; age ≥ 80 years and HbA1c ≥ 8%: HR 4.44; compared with age ≥ 80 years and HbA1c < 6.5%). Within 1 year, 84.3% achieved HbA1c < 8%; 65.1% achieved HbA1c < 7%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians appear to be applying treatment intensification guidelines and individualizing therapy by considering patient age, achieving glycemic control among most incident diabetes patients.

Prescription medication burden in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes: a SUrveillance, PREvention, and ManagEment of Diabetes Mellitus (SUPREME-DM) study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the burden of medication use for patients with newly diagnosed diabetes both before and after diabetes diagnosis and to identify subpopulations of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes who face a relatively high drug burden. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: 11 integrated health systems in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 196,654 insured adults 20 years of age or older newly diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from January 2005 through December 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of unique therapeutic classes of drugs dispensed in the 12 months before and 12 months after diagnosis of diabetes in five categories: overall, antihypertensive agents, antihyperlipidemic agents, mental health agents, and antihyperglycemic agents (in the postdiagnosis period only). RESULTS: The mean number of drug classes used by newly diagnosed patients with diabetes is high before diagnosis (5.0) and increases significantly afterward (6.6). Of this increase, 81% is due to antihyperglycemic initiation and increased use of medications to control hypertension and lipid levels. Multivariate analyses showed that overall drug burden after diabetes diagnosis was higher in women, older, white, and obese patients, as well as among those with higher glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and comorbidity levels (significant for all comparisons). The overall number of drug classes used by newly diagnosed patients with diabetes after diagnosis decreased slightly but significantly between 2005 and 2009. CONCLUSION: Patients newly diagnosed with diabetes face a substantially increased burden of medications used to control diabetes and other comorbidities. This study shows an increased focus on cardiovascular disease risk factor control after diagnosis of diabetes. However, total drug burden may be slightly decreasing over time.

Independent contribution of A1C, systolic blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol control to risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalizations in type 2 diabetes: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in diabetes requires broad-based treatment of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. The independent contribution of all combinations of risk factor control to CVD risk has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the independent association of control of glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalization. DESIGN: Non-concurrent longitudinal cohort study. PATIENTS: The study included 26,636 patients with type 2 diabetes who were members of an integrated group model HMO with multiple A1C, SBP, and LDL-C measurements. MAIN MEASURES: Patients were followed for a mean (SD) of 5.6 (2.5) years until they died or disenrolled, or until 31 December 2010. The outcome was a first-observed CVD hospitalization. Using the mean of all A1C, SBP, and LDL-C measures during follow-up, we created dichotomous categories of A1C control (< 7 %), SBP control (< 130 mmHg), and LDL-C control (< 100 mg/dL) to estimate the incidence rate of CVD hospitalization associated with all combinations of risk factor control adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. KEY RESULTS: Patients with no controlled risk factors (18.2/1,000 person-years, 95 % CI 16.5-20.2) or with only A1C in control (16.9, 15.0-19.0) had the highest rate of CVD hospitalization, whereas those with all three risk factors controlled (7.2, 6.2-8.4) or with SBP and LDL-C in control (6.1, 5.1-7.2) had the lowest rates. Those with only SBP or LDL-C in control, A1C and SBP controlled, or A1C and LDL-C controlled had statistically similar incidence between the highest and lowest rates. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining SBP < 130 mmHg or LDL-C < 100 mg/dL was significantly associated with reduced CVD hospitalization risk, especially when both risk factors were well controlled. Maintaining A1C < 7 % was not independently associated with reduced CVD hospitalization risk.

Initial antihyperglycemic drug therapy among 241 327 adults with newly identified diabetes from 2005 through 2010: a surveillance, prevention, and management of diabetes mellitus (SUPREME-DM) study.

BACKGROUND: Among adults with incident diabetes, data are lacking about first antihyperglycemic initiation and whether medication choice aligns with recommendations. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of initiating any antihyperglycemic, and specifically sulfonylurea versus metformin. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 241 327 patients from 11 US health systems, 2005 through 2010. Assessments included antihyperglycemic initiation within 6 months of diabetes identification, first medication initiated, and initiation predictors. RESULTS: Only 40.3% (n = 97 350) started any antihyperglycemic; 75.2% (n = 73 221) started metformin. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) predicted initiating any antihyperglycemic (HbA1c >9%, relative risk [RR] = 3.94, 95% CI = 3.82, 4.07, vs HbA1c >6.5%-7%). Age modified the HbA1c effect: at higher HbA1c, likelihood of starting antihyperglycemics differed little across ages; at lower HbA1c, older patients were less likely to start antihyperglycemics (P < .001). Individuals with elevated serum creatinine (SCr) were more likely to started on sulfonylurea (SCr = 1.4-2, RR = 2.21 [2.05, 2.39]; SCr >2, RR = 2.75 [2.30, 3.29] vs normal SCr), particularly as HbA1c increased: patients with HbA1c 8%-9% and SCr >2 were 5.59 times (2.94, 10.65) more likely to start sulfonylurea versus those with HbA1c >6.5%-7% and normal SCr. Age predicted sulfonylurea initiation (20-39 years, RR = 0.87 [0.79, 0.95]; ≥ 80 years, RR = 2.41 [2.20, 2.65] vs 50-59 years). CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with incident diabetes, metformin was generally the first antihyperglycemic initiated. However, 59.7% did not start any antihyperglycemic at diabetes identification. HbA1c and age predict antihyperglycemic initiation; SCr and age predict sulfonylurea initiation.