Insulin improves well-being for selected elderly type 2 diabetic subjects.

The effects of insulin therapy on patient well-being, treatment satisfaction and mood, and on carer strain were studied in 30 elderly Type 2 diabetic patients (age 73 +/- 7 (SD) yr) in poor glycaemic control on tablet therapy. A comparison group of ten poorly controlled patients who remained on oral agents was also studied. After 4 weeks of insulin treatment, there were significant improvements in mental health, role-emotional, role-physical (all P<0.05) and vitality (P<0.01) domains of the short form health survey (SF-36), and also in the diabetes treatment and satisfaction questionnaire (DTSQ) and geriatric depression scale (both P<0.01) compared to baseline. After 12 weeks, the improvements in mental health, social functioning and vitality (P<0.01 for all domains), and in the DTSQ were sustained. Carer strain was lower at 4 weeks. No changes in outcomes were seen in the comparison group. In selected elderly Type 2 diabetic patients, insulin treatment is associated with significant improvements in well-being, treatment satisfaction and mood, even without significant improvements in glycaemic control and without increase in carer strain. The SF-36 and DTSQ are sensitive to the benefits of the changes in the treatment for these patients.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and quality of diabetic care in residential and nursing homes. A postal survey.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the prevalence of known diabetes mellitus in care homes and the patterns of diabetes care in these institutions. DESIGN: a postal questionnaire sent to all 98 care homes in Sheffield. RESULTS: 70 care homes (71%) returned the questionnaire, indicating that 233 (8.8%) of 2648 residents were known to have diabetes. Of these, 76 (33%) were treated with diet alone, 105 (45%) with diet plus oral medication and 52 (22%) with insulin. Only seven registered nurses (2%) in the homes had certified diabetes training. Forty-two homes (60%) did not carry out a structured, diabetes-related assessment of residents on entry and only 29 (42%) had regular review of diabetic residents by a general practitioner or practice nurse. Most homes (89%) were visited by an optician, 56 (80%) also had a regular chiropody service, although 32 (46%) of these charged their residents for this service. CONCLUSIONS: the known prevalence of diabetes is similar to that reported previously. This study highlights the need for structured care with defined standards for care-home residents with diabetes.

Patient mood and carer strain during stroke rehabilitation in the community following early hospital discharge.

PURPOSE: Patient mood and carer stress were assessed for stroke patients in the community following early hospital discharge. METHOD: Patients had low Barthel Indices (13.0 (mean) +/- 4.9 (SD)) with high anxiety and depression scores, and carers had high stress scores, on starting rehabilitation. On starting rehabilitation, patient Barthel Indices correlated inversely with patient depression (r = -0.33, p < 0.02) and carer stress scores (r = -0.48, p < 0.001). RESULTS: During rehabilitation improvements occurred in patient Barthel Indices, patient anxiety scores and carer stress scores, but not in patient depression scores. Incremental increases in patient Barthel Indices during rehabilitation correlated with reductions in carer stress scores (r = -0.55, R2 = 29.4%, p < 0.001). Following early hospital discharge stroke patients display mood abnormalities which do not resolve during rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Carer stress and patients depression scores are related to the severity of stroke-related disability. Strategies to address patient mood and carer stress should be present in community services providing early stroke rehabilitation.

A comparison of a low-dose warfarin induction regimen with the modified Fennerty regimen in elderly inpatients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare a new low-dose warfarin induction regimen with the Fennerty regimen in elderly inpatients. DESIGN: Age-stratified, randomized prospective study. SUBJECTS: 120 age-stratified elderly inpatients. INTERVENTIONS: Each patient was randomized to either the new induction regimen or to a modified Fennerty regimen. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Days to therapeutic International Normalized Ratio (INR >2); days in the therapeutic range (INR 2-3) during induction; number of patients with INR >4.5; ability of day 4 INR to predict day 8 warfarin dose. RESULTS: The mean time to therapeutic INR was longer for the new induction regimen than modified Fennerty regimen in patients aged 65-75 years [4.6 (mean) +/- 1.6 (SD) days vs 3.8 +/- 0.8 days; P = 0.03] and in patients aged >75 years (4.5 +/- 1.4 days vs 3.5 +/- 0.7 days; P = 0.003). Patients spent more time in the therapeutic INR range with the new induction regimen [3.0 +/- 1.3 days vs 2.7 +/- 1.3 days (P = 0.03) for those aged 65-75 years and 2.9 +/- 1.1 days vs 2.4 +/- 1.3 days (P = 0.04 for those aged >75 years]. Fewer patients using the new regimen had INRs >4.5 in the first 8 days [1 (3%) vs 6 (20%) for 65-75 years (P < 0.05) and 1 (3%) vs 11 (37%) for >75 years (P < 0.01)]. The ability to predict the maintenance dose to within 1 mg was 55% for both regimens. CONCLUSION: The low-dose regimen has important clinical advantages over the Fennerty regimen for anticoagulating elderly inpatients.

"Spontaneous" platelet aggregation in whole blood in diabetic and non diabetic survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

There is increasing evidence that platelet thrombi play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We compared "spontaneous" platelet aggregation in whole blood in 17 non-diabetic and 12 diabetic subjects on admission with AMI. There was no significant difference in the fall in platelet count between the two groups, expressed as platelets remaining (75.2 +/- 7.9% vs 77.3 +/- 6.9% at 10 min, 66.6 +/- 8.9% vs 68.5 +/- 6.3% at 20 min, 63.5 +/- 8.2% vs 64.9 +/- 6.7% at 30 min and 59.4 +/- 10.3% vs 61.3 +/- 7.6% at 60 min). The rate of "spontaneous" aggregation was increased in subjects with evidence of heart failure on admission compared to those without (59.9 +/- 7.9% vs 66.2 +/- 6.6% at 30 min [p = 0.05] and 55.4 +/- 9.6% vs 63.1 +/- 7.7% at 60 min [p = 0.04]). There was no correlation between the fall in platelet count and admission plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin or peak aspartate amino-transferase. The subjects studied on admission with AMI had greater rates of "spontaneous" aggregation than 8 subjects studied between 6 and 12 months after acute myocardial infarction (75.9 +/- 7.4% vs 85.8 +/- 5.4% at 10 min; p = 0.001 and 64.3 +/- 7.5% vs 75.0 +/- 7.8% at 30 min; p = 0.006) and compared to normal controls (90.7 +/- 4.4% at 10 min; p < 0.001 and 83.4 +/- 6.5 at 30 min; p < 0.001). This study provides evidence of increased "spontaneous" platelet aggregation in subjects admitted with acute myocardial infarction but no difference between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects was observed.

An algorithm for tight glycaemic control in diabetic infarct survivors.

An algorithm has been developed to provide predictable control of blood glucose for 48 h following acute myocardial infarction. In 29 diabetic patients intravenous infusion of soluble insulin was started upon admission to hospital and the rate adjusted hourly on the basis of bedside capillary glucose estimations. Insulin infusion rates related to glycaemia were higher in obese patients and those with severe cardiac failure. For all patients mean admission glucose levels were reduced from 18.3 +/- 5.9 mmol l-1 to 9.1 +/- 3.3 mmol l-1 at 4 h and to 8.8 +/- 2.5 mmol l-1 at 6 h. Mean glucose concentrations for 48 h after admission were 8.2 +/- 1.3 mmol l-1 for all patients. Admission glucose levels were slightly higher in patients with severe, compared to those without or mild, cardiac failure (P less than 0.1), but levels over the following 48 h were similar. Doubling insulin infusion rates before meals did not achieve tighter glycaemic control. Hypoglycaemia (glucose less than 3 mmol l-1) occurred on 11 occasions in six patients; only two episodes were symptomatic and only two episodes occurred when the insulin rates were doubled before meals. This algorithm produced tighter glycaemic control than previously published protocols, particularly in patients with severe cardiac failure. Hypoglycaemia is uncommon and the algorithm easy to administer by nursing staff.

'Spontaneous' platelet aggregation in whole blood in diabetic patients with and without microvascular disease.

Consistent abnormalities of agonist-induced platelet aggregation, in either whole blood or platelet rich plasma, have not been demonstrated in diabetic patients without microvascular disease. In the present study platelet aggregation in the absence of exogenous agonists ('spontaneous' aggregation) was compared between 22 non-diabetic subjects and 23 Type 1 diabetic patients with (n = 12) and without (n = 11) microvascular disease. 'Spontaneous' aggregation was determined by measuring the percentage fall in single platelet number in aliquots of whole blood shaken for 60 min. Diabetic patients without microvascular disease had fewer single platelets remaining (greater aggregation) than non-diabetic subjects at all time-points (69.7 +/- 6.6 vs 82.3 +/- 7.3% at 60 min p less than 0.001), but more platelets remaining than in diabetic patients with microvascular disease at all time-points (69.7 +/- 6.6 vs 61.0 +/- 7.8% at 60 min p less than 0.02). No significant correlations were observed between platelet aggregation and plasma glucose, blood cell counts, or glycated haemoglobin levels. The study suggests that platelet abnormalities antedate the appearance of microvascular disease in diabetic patients.

Increased prescription of thrombolytic treatment to elderly patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction associated with audit.

OBJECTIVES: To assess prescription of thrombolytic treatment to elderly patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction and the incidence of side effects. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prescriptions during five months (first audit) followed by prospective analysis of uptake of treatment during five months after interventions in clinical management; prospective assessment of adverse events during thrombolytic treatment. SETTING: Coronary care unit of large district general hospital. PATIENTS: 110 patients aged greater than or equal to 65 with subsequently proved acute myocardial infarction admitted in first audit and 119 admitted in the second. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Site of infarct, prescription of thrombolysis treatment, reasons for nonprescription, complications. RESULTS: Before intervention thrombolytic treatment was prescribed to 13/110 (12%) patients with subsequently confirmed myocardial infarction and after intervention to 55/119 (46%) patients (p less than 0.01). In the first audit no patients with angina received thrombolytic treatment whereas 13/79 (16%) were treated in the second audit. Increased prescription of thrombolytic treatment in the second audit was associated with significantly fewer exclusions owing to dyspepsia (p less than 0.05) and unstated or unsatisfactory reasons (p less than 0.01) Streptokinase infusions were completed uneventfully in 75% (48/64) and 77% (10/13) of patients with infarction and angina respectively. Side effects of treatment were more common in patients with inferior than with anterior infarcts (16/42 (30%) v 3/24 (13%), p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low rates of prescription of thrombolytic treatment to elderly patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were identified and corrected. Streptokinase treatment was associated with transient arrhythmias or hypotension in about a third of these patients with infarcts, particularly those with electrocardiographic changes in inferior leads.

Platelet function and conjugated diene concentrations in diabetic and non-diabetic survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare platelet function in diabetic and non-diabetic survivors of acute myocardial infarction and to relate it to an index of free radical activity in these patients. DESIGN: In vivo and in vitro indices of platelet function and diene conjugate molar ratios were measured in diabetic and non-diabetic infarct survivors on admission to hospital and sequentially for 72 h. PATIENTS: The patients were 17 diabetics (age 61.9 years, range 32-74) and 12 non-diabetics (60.8 years, range 39-75) admitted to hospital with acute myocardial infarction confirmed according to WHO criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Agonist induced platelet aggregation, beta thromboglobulin levels, and linoleic acid 18:2(9,11)/18:2(9,12) molar ratios did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic patients on admission. Concentrations of adrenaline producing 50% maximum platelet aggregation (EC50) in whole blood on admission were lower than non-infarct controls in both patient groups. The EC50 values in platelet rich plasma in both groups fell during the 72 h following admission (increases in platelet sensitivity). beta Thromboglobulin concentrations fell following admission in the diabetic group. Diene conjugate molar ratios were higher at 12 h and 24 h compared to admission in diabetic patients. Increases in diene conjugate ratios between admission and 24 h correlated with peak aspartate transaminase levels in both patient groups. No correlations were observed between platelet aggregation, beta thromboglobulin levels, or diene conjugate molar ratios. CONCLUSIONS: During 72 h following myocardial infarction there is a reduction in platelet activation in vivo and an increase in platelet sensitivity to exogenous agonists in vitro. Free radical generated isomers of linoleic acid increase in relation to infarct size, but are unrelated to platelet function. There were no differences in platelet function between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.

The relationships of concentrations of insulin, intact proinsulin and 32-33 split proinsulin with cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects.

Standard radioimmunoassay for insulin may substantially overestimate levels of insulin because of cross-reaction with other insulin-like molecules. We have measured concentrations of insulin, intact proinsulin and 32-33 split proinsulin using two-site monoclonal antibody based immunoradiometric assays, and of insulin by a standard radioimmunoassay ("immunoreactive insulin") in 51 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects in the fasting state. The relationships of these concentrations were sought with those of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, plasminogen activator inhibitor, blood pressure, and indices of body fat distribution. Significant relationships were apparent between concentrations of "immunoreactive insulin" as measured by standard radioimmunoassay and triglyceride (rs = 0.42, p less than 0.001), total cholesterol (rs = 0.25, p = 0.038), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (rs = -0.30, p = 0.018) and body mass index (rs = 0.30, p = 0.017), but only the relationships with triglyceride (rs = 0.36, p = 0.006) and body mass index (rs = 0.26, p = 0.34) remained significant when concentrations of immunoradiometrically measured insulin were employed. Concentrations of 32-33 split proinsulin, which comprises the major insulin-like molecule in these subjects, correlated positively with triglyceride (rs = 0.33, p = 0.009), total cholesterol (rs = 0.23, p = 0.050), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (rs = 0.26, p = 0.049), and negatively with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (rs = -0.29, p = 0.021).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of fish oil supplements in NIDDM subjects. Controlled study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fish oil preparation (MaxEPA) on hemostatic function and fasting lipid and glucose levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) subjects. Eighty NIDDM outpatients aged 55.9 yr (mean SD 11.5 yr) participated in a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study of MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) or olive oil (control) treatment over 6 wk. Patients received either MaxEPA or olive oil in addition to preexisting therapy. Metabolic and hemostatic variables were measured before treatment and after 3 and 6 wk. Platelet membrane eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content increased in the treatment group (P less than 0.001). MaxEPA supplementation was associated with a significant fall in total triglycerides (P less than 0.001) but did not affect total cholesterol (P = 0.7) compared with control treatment. Fasting plasma glucose increased after 3 wk (P = 0.01) but not after 6 wk (P = 0.17) treatment with MaxEPA. Spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood fell in the MaxEPA group (P less than 0.02) after 6 wk, but there were no changes in agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane generation in platelet-rich plasma, or plasma beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor IV levels. An increase in clotting factor VII (P = 0.02), without changes in fibrinogen or factor X levels, occurred in the MaxEPA group. Similar reductions in blood pressure were observed in both groups. Dietary supplementation with MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) in NIDDM subjects is associated with improvement in hypertriglyceridemia but with deleterious effects in factor VII and blood glucose levels. Most indices of platelet function are unaffected by this therapy.

The effects of dopexamine, a new dopamine analogue, on platelet function in stress.

1. Dopexamine is a novel analogue of dopamine which is free of alpha-adrenoceptor activity and is of therapeutic value in chronic heart failure. The effects of dopexamine on the in vitro function of platelets from 10 healthy subjects at rest, after exercise and after in vitro addition of adrenaline and noradrenaline were investigated. 2. Dopexamine in a wide range of concentrations (10(-9)M-10(-3)M) did not appear to function as an agonist on platelets either in whole blood or in PRP preparations. 3. Dopexamine caused a dose-dependent inhibition of agonist-induced platelet aggregation in both whole blood and PRP. The inhibitory effect of dopexamine was significantly greater in PRP than in whole blood, and significantly greater to adrenaline than to collagen or ADP as agonists in whole blood. 4. After exercise or after in vitro addition of adrenaline and noradrenaline at concentrations commonly seen in myocardial infarction, dopexamine produced similar levels of inhibition seen with platelets from resting subjects. 5. Dopexamine did not affect plasma catecholamine levels but caused an increase in intraplatelet noradrenaline levels. 6. This study suggests that dopexamine is unlikely adversely to affect the hyperaggregable state found in patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction.