Risk factors for recurrent hypoglycemia in hospitalized diabetic patients admitted for severe hypoglycemia.
OBJECTIVE
Severe hypoglycemia can result in neural damage, impaired cognitive function, coma, seizures, or death. The decision to admit diabetic patients after initial treatment in the emergency department remains unclear. Our purpose is to identify risk factors for developing recurrent hypoglycemia in diabetic patients admitted for severe hypoglycemia.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of 233 subjects (92 males, 141 females; mean age, 74.1 +/- 9.8 years) with type 2 diabetes treated at a tertiary care teaching hospital and hospitalized for severe hypoglycemia.


RESULTS
Seventy-four (31.8%) patients were categorized with recurrent hypoglycemia and 159 (68.2%) with non-recurrent. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with loss of a recent meal, coronary artery disease, infection, and poor renal function (lower estimated glomerular filtration rate) were at risk for recurrent hypoglycemia. The use of calcium-channel blockers appeared to be a protective factor for the development of recurrent hypoglycemia.


CONCLUSIONS
There may be a subset of patients with severe hypoglycemia and certain risk factors for recurrent hypoglycemia that should be admitted.
Lin
Yen-Yue
YY
Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Chin-Wang
CW
Sheu
Wayne Huey-Herng
WH
Chu
Shi-Jye
SJ
Wu
Chin-Pyng
CP
Tsai
Shih-Hung
SH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers