Title
Documentation of hypoglycemia assessment among adults with diabetes during clinical encounters in primary care and endocrinology practices
Date Issued
01 March 2020
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Rodriguez-Gutierrez R.
Salcido-Montenegro A.
Singh-Ospina N.M.
Maraka S.
Iñiguez-Ariza N.
Spencer-Bonilla G.
Tamhane S.U.
Lipska K.J.
McCoy R.G.
Abstract
Purpose: To examine the proportion of diabetes-focused clinical encounters in primary care and endocrinology practices where the evaluation for hypoglycemia is documented; and when it is, identify clinicians’ stated actions in response to patient-reported events. Methods: A total of 470 diabetes-focused encounters among 283 patients nonpregnant adults (≥18 years) with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus in this retrospective cohort study. Participants were randomly identified in blocks of treatment strategy and care location (95 and 52 primary care encounters among hypoglycemia-prone medications (i.e. insulin, sulfonylurea) and others patients, respectively; 94 and 42 endocrinology encounters among hypo-treated and others, respectively). Documentation of hypoglycemia and subsequent management plan in the electronic health record were evaluated. Results: Overall, 132 (46.6%) patients had documentation of hypoglycemia assessment, significantly more prevalent among hypo-treated patients seen in endocrinology than in primary care (72.3% vs. 47.4%; P = 0.001). Hypoglycemia was identified by patient in 38.2% of encounters. Odds of hypoglycemia assessment documentation was highest among the hypo-treated (OR 13.6; 95% CI 5.5−33.74, vs. others) and patients seen in endocrine clinic (OR 4.48; 95% CI 2.3−8.6, vs. primary care). After documentation of hypoglycemia, treatment was modified in 30% primary care and 46% endocrine clinic encounters; P = 0.31. Few patients were referred to diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). Conclusions: Continued efforts to improve hypoglycemia evaluation, documentation, and management are needed, particularly in primary care. This includes not only screening at-risk patients for hypoglycemia, but also modifying their treatment regimens and/or leveraging DSMES.
Start page
552
End page
560
Volume
67
Issue
3
OCDE Knowledge area
Endocrinología, Metabolismo (incluyendo diabetes, hormonas)
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85076107109
PubMed ID
Source
Endocrine
ISSN of the container
1355008X
Source funding
National Institute on Aging
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus