Increasing trend in emergency department visits for hypoglycemia from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. Issue 6 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Ying-Ju; Yang, Chen-Chang; Huang, Lynn-Chu; Chen, Likwang; Hwu, Chii-Min
• Is Part Of: Primary care diabetes. Volume 9:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 490
• Page End: 496
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Emergency department -- Hypoglycemia -- Incidence -- Type 2 diabetes; Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2015.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-9918

Abstract

Highlights: Emergency attendance for hypoglycemia increased 5 folds in last 10 years in Taiwan. The events prevailed among women, older persons, and non-urban residents. New safety initiatives in the management of type 2 diabetes are in urgent need. Abstract: Aims: We analyze the time trends of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits in Taiwan between 2000 and 2010, focusing on type 2 diabetic patients receiving antidiabetic agents. Methods: From a national dataset containing longitudinal medical claims of one million persons, we ascertained 4479 hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits from 3184 type 2 diabetic patients for analysis. We used negative binomial regression to calculate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for comparing event rates of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits in different study periods. Results: Rates of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits increased 4.8 folds from year 2000 to 2010 (adjusted IRR 4.88, 95% CI 3.94–6.05, P < 0.001). Severe hypoglycemia requiring emergency department visits prevailed among women, older patients (≥65 years), and those not lived in the urban areas. Conclusions: Within a 10-year period, there was a substantial increase in the rates of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits from type 2 diabetic patients in Taiwan. Appropriate risk management plans should be developed to prevent the occurrence of severe hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan.