Days absent from work as a result of complications associated with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from 20 years of linked national registry data in Sweden.

AIMS: To analyse days absent from work related to individual microvascular, macrovascular and other complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to identify key drivers of absence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: National health and socio-economic individual-level data were analysed for the years 1997 to 2016 for people with T2D, and age-, sex- and residential region-matched controls (5:1) using linkage to Swedish national administrative registers, based on personal identity numbers. Regression analyses accounting for individual-level clustering and education were estimated to obtain days absent by individual complications. Alternative analyses, for example, workforce indicator and age subgroups, were explored for robustness and comparison purposes. RESULTS: A total of 413 000 people with T2D aged <66 years, comprising 4.9 million person-years, was included. The crude proportion with any absence was higher among those with T2D compared to controls (47% vs. 26%) in the index year, and the median (IQR) number of days was higher (223 [77;359] vs. 196 [59;352]) if any absence. Regression analyses showed that complications per se were a key driver of days absent: stroke (+102 days); end-stage renal disease (+70 days); severe vision loss (+56 days); and angina pectoris, heart failure, and osteoarthritis (+53 days each). The alternative analyses showed similar levels of days absent and age subgroups differed in expected directions. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the persisting impact on productivity from complications that supports continued efforts to reduce risk factors in T2D. Future studies on burden of disease and economic evaluations of new therapies and disease management may use this new set of complication-specific estimates to improve understanding of the value of reducing complications.

Use and effectiveness of a fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec/liraglutide (IDegLira) in a real-world population with type 2 diabetes: Results from a European, multicentre, retrospective chart review study.

AIMS: To describe the real-world use and effectiveness of IDegLira, a fixed-ratio combination of the basal insulin degludec, and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) liraglutide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This European, multicentre, retrospective chart review comprised adults (n = 611) with type 2 diabetes, who started IDegLira ≥6 months before data collection. Clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline (defined as the most recent recording during the 6 months before the first IDegLira prescription) and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (± 45 days for each time point) after commencing IDegLira, where data were available. RESULTS: Baseline regimens included non-injectable medications (19%), basal insulin (19%), GLP-1RA (10%), free combination therapy (insulin/GLP-1RA, 24%) and multiple daily-dose insulin injections (MDI, 28%), all ± oral antidiabetic drugs. After 6 months, significant glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reductions were observed in patients overall and in all subgroups (-10 mmol/mol [-0.9%] overall; P < .0001), and a significant reduction in mean body weight (-0.7 kg; P < .05) was observed in patients overall and in patients receiving MDI (-2.4 kg; P < .0001). The mean IDegLira dose was 22, 30 and 32 dose steps at initiation, and at 6 and 12 months follow-up, respectively. In total, only 67 patients reached the maximum 50 dose steps, with most coming from the free combination therapy (n = 31) or MDI (n = 15) baseline regimen groups. Hypoglycaemia rates were reduced by 82% (rate ratio 0.18; P < .0001) in the 6-month period after vs before IDegLira initiation. Overall, a total of 12 patients experienced 15 events in the 6 months after IDegLira initiation. CONCLUSION: In real-world practice, after 6 months and at a moderate dose, IDegLira resulted in substantial reductions in HbA1c and body weight, with a reduced risk of hypoglycaemia.

Delay in treatment intensification increases the risks of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of delay in treatment intensification (IT; clinical inertia) in conjunction with glycaemic burden on the risk of macrovascular events (CVE) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out using United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink, including T2DM patients diagnosed from 1990 with follow-up data available until 2012. RESULTS: In the cohort of 105,477 patients mean HbA1c was 8.1% (65 mmol/mol) at diagnosis, 11% had a history of cardiovascular disease, and 7.1% experienced at least one CVE during 5.3 years of median follow-up. In patients with HbA1c consistently above 7/7.5% (53/58 mmol/mol, n = 23,101/11,281) during 2 years post diagnosis, 26/22% never received any IT. Compared to patients with HbA1c <7% (<53 mmol/mol), in patients with HbA1c ≥7% (≥53 mmol/mol), a 1 year delay in receiving IT was associated with significantly increased risk of MI, stroke, HF and composite CVE by 67% (HR CI: 1.39, 2.01), 51% (HR CI: 1.25, 1.83), 64% (HR CI: 1.40, 1.91) and 62% (HR CI: 1.46, 1.80) respectively. One year delay in IT in interaction with HbA1c above 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) was also associated with similar increased risk of CVE. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, 22% remained under poor glycaemic control over 2 years, and 26% never received IT. Delay in IT by 1 year in conjunction with poor glycaemic control significantly increased the risk of MI, HF, stroke and composite CVE.

Participation in mammography screening among migrants and non-migrants in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Inequality in use of mammography screening across population groups is a concern since migrants are more likely to become non-users compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to a) identify determinants of participation among migrant groups and Danish-born women with emphasis on the effect of household size, socioeconomic position and use of healthcare services, and b) test whether effects of determinants were consistent across migrant and non-migrant groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used data from the first eight invitation rounds of the mammography screening programme in Copenhagen, Denmark (1991-2008) in combination with register-based data. RESULTS: The crude odds ratio (OR) for not participating in mammography screening was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.30-1.46) for women born in other-Western and 1.80 (95% CI, 1.71-1.90) for women born in non-Western countries compared to Danish-born women. The adjusted OR was 1.14 (95% CI, 1.06-1.21) for other-Western and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.11-1.27) for women born in non-Western countries. Lack of contact with a general practitioner or dental services, and not being employed had a significant negative effect on use of mammography screening. Higher-educated women were significantly less likely to use mammography screening in all groups whilst hospitalisation had a significant effect among Danish-born women. Living alone was consistently associated with non-use of mammography screening. The probability of becoming a non-user was significantly less among women living within households of two to four persons compared to women living alone. Except in the case of age and hospitalisation, trends were similar across country of birth, but the relative importance of specific determinants in explaining use of mammography screening differed. CONCLUSION: Household size, socioeconomic position and use of healthcare services were determinants of participation in mammography screening. This study emphasises the need for conducting refined analyses distinguishing among subgroups within diverse populations when explaining differences in screening behaviour.

Assessment of channeling bias among initiators of glucose-lowering drugs: A UK cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Channeling bias may occur when a newly marketed drug and an established drug, despite similar indications, are prescribed to patients with different prognostic characteristics (ie, confounding). AIM: To investigate channeling bias and its impact on relative effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs versus basal insulin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) versus sulfonylurea. METHODS: In the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, patients with type 2 diabetes initiating treatment between 2006 and 2015 were included. Analyses were stratified by years since first prescription of GLP-1 and DPP-4i, respectively. The characteristics of GLP-1 versus insulin and DPP-4i versus sulfonylurea initiators were compared over time. After propensity score matching, the relative effectiveness regarding 6-month changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight was estimated. RESULTS: In total, 8,398 GLP-1, 14,807 insulin, 24,481 DPP-4i, and 33,505 sulfonylurea initiators were identified. No major channeling was observed. Considerable overlap in distributions of characteristics allowed for propensity score-matched analyses. Relative effectiveness was similar across time. The overall relative effect of GLP-1 versus insulin showed no difference for HbA1c and relative increase in body weight (3.57 kg [95% confidence interval {CI}: 3.21, 3.92]) for insulin. The overall relative effect of DPP-4i versus sulfonylurea showed relative decrease in HbA1c (-0.34% [95% CI: -0.38, -0.30]) and increase in body weight (1.58 kg [95% CI: 1.38, 1.78]) for sulfonylurea. CONCLUSION: No major channeling was identified in the investigated glucose-lowering drugs. Relative effectiveness could be estimated already in the first year after launch and was consistent in the years thereafter.

Use of Healthcare Services Following Severe Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes: Analysis of Real-World Data.

INTRODUCTION: Severe hypoglycemia is a burden for both patients and the healthcare system payer alike. This study aimed to quantify the resource use associated with a severe hypoglycemic event (SHE) in patients with diabetes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compared resource use (e.g., physician visits, hospitalizations, and medications) 1 month pre- and post-SHE among patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) from a large not-for-profit healthcare provider. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2014, 284 patients with T1D (52.5% male, mean age 29.8 years, mean HbA1c 7.9%) and 3691 patients with T2D (47.6% male, mean age 67.1 years, mean HbA1c 7.3%) were eligible for inclusion in the study. In total, 95.4% of patients with T1D and 32.8% of patients with T2D were insulin treated, while 3.5% of patients with T1D and 70.4% of patients with T2D were treated with oral drugs that could cause hypoglycemia (sulfonylureas or meglitinides). Hospital admissions increased by 95% in T1D and 127% in T2D (P < 0.001) 1 month post-SHE versus 1 month pre-SHE. Of those admitted to hospital (T1D n = 59; T2D n = 1214), the mean length of stay was significantly longer during the month post- versus pre-SHE [2.08 vs. 0.88 days, P = 0.036 (T1D) and 4.17 vs. 1.45 days, P < 0.001 (T2D)]. Outpatient visits also increased by 37% for T1D and 47% for T2D between these two time periods (P < 0.001). The total monthly expense per patient increased by 46% and 87% for T1D and T2D, respectively, from $485 pre-SHE to $708 post-SHE for T1D, and from $601 pre-SHE to $1121 post-SHE for T2D (P < 0.001). The greatest expense was hospital care, with increases of 179% and 166% for T1D and T2D, respectively, to $312 and $706 per patient/month. CONCLUSION: This real-world analysis from a large diabetes registry indicates an increased use of healthcare services, including more frequent and prolonged hospital admissions and outpatient visits after an SHE, which resulted in an increase in healthcare expense. FUNDING: Novo Nordisk.

Self-reported hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin in the Hoorn Diabetes Care System Cohort, the Netherlands: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to study the prevalence of self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations and its association with mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with insulin in usual care. METHODS: Demographics, clinical characteristics and mortality data were obtained from 1667 patients with T2D treated with insulin in the Hoorn Diabetes Care System Cohort (DCS), a prospective cohort study using clinical care data. Self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations were defined as either mild: events not requiring help; or severe: events requiring help from others (either medical assistance or assistance of others). The association between hypoglycaemic sensations and mortality was analysed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, 981 patients (59%) reported no hypoglycaemic sensations in the past year, 612 (37%) reported only mild sensations and 74 (4%) reported severe hypoglycaemic sensations. During a median follow-up of 1.9 years, 98 patients (5.9%) died. Reporting only mild hypoglycaemic sensations was associated with a lower mortality risk (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.80), while reporting severe sensations was not significantly associated with mortality (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.80), compared with reporting no hypoglycaemic sensations, and adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Sensitivity analyses showed an OR of 1.38 (95% CI 0.31 to 6.11) for patients reporting severe hypoglycaemic sensations requiring medical assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations are highly prevalent in our insulin-treated T2D population. Patients reporting hypoglycaemic sensations not requiring medical assistance did not have an increased risk of mortality, suggesting that these sensations are not an indicator of increased short-term mortality risk in patients with T2D.