Differences in glycemic control across world regions: a post-hoc analysis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on dual antidiabetes drug therapy

Serial mediation roles of empowerment and self-care activities connecting health literacy, quality of life, and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Health literacy, empowerment, and self-care activities are likely the crucial concepts affecting the quality of life and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, evidence demonstrating the mechanisms underlying these concepts is scarce.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to test the serial mediation roles of empowerment and self-care activities on the relationships between health literacy and quality of life and between health literacy and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in people with T2D.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 people with T2D in Guangzhou, China, from July 2019 to January 2020. Data were collected using the Health Literacy Scale, the Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Measure, and the Adjusted Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale. RStudio 4.2.1 was used for serial mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The dimension of communicative health literacy accounted for the most total variance (β = 0.810, p < .001) in the construct of health literacy. The serial multiple mediation of empowerment and self-care activities in the associations between health literacy and quality of life (β = -.046, p = .019) and between health literacy and HbA1c (β = -.045, p = .005) were statistically significant.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

This study emphasized the vital role of communicative health literacy when improving health literacy in people with T2D. Diabetes care and education specialists could implement empowerment approaches and flexible self-care strategies to improve the quality of life and glycemic control in people with T2D. Enhancing health literacy was suggested as a favorable strategy for promoting empowerment and self-care activities in people with T2D.

Comprehensive analysis of factors associated with significant blood loss during percutaneous nephrolithotomy

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study is to conduct a thorough investigation of the risk factors associated with blood loss during PCNL, within the setting of a US urban tertiary care center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of our endourology database to identify adult patients who underwent PCNL for stone extraction at our tertiary stone center between October 2014 and December 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the extent of blood loss: significant blood loss (SBL) and no significant blood loss (NSBL). The cut-off value for SBL was determined as the median change in hematocrit levels from preoperative to postoperative among patients who required postoperative transfusions. Several factors were evaluated, including stone dimensions, operative details, the presence of preoperative drains, patient position, type of access, access site, number of accesses, tract size, tract length, stone location, number of stones, operative time, and the S.T.O.N.E. Nephrolithometry Scoring System.

RESULTS

Our analysis included a total of 695 procedures performed on 674 distinct patients who met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 102 patients (14.7%) were included in the SBL group. Patients in the SBL group had a higher mean number of accesses (1.57 vs. 1.29, P<0.001), were positioned prone more often (96.0% vs. 88.6%, P = 0.025), and underwent fluoroscopic-guided access more frequently (89.9% vs. 64.8%, P<0.001). Additionally, significant differences were observed in stone morphology, with the SBL group having higher rates of complete staghorn stones (42.2% vs. 27.0%, P = 0.019) and lower rates of partial staghorn stones (27.7% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.019). A larger proportion of patients in the SBL group required a 16 French nephrostomy tube for postoperative drainage (13.3% vs. 10.4%, P = 0.041). Lastly, the SBL group had a longer mean operative time compared to the NSBL group (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified stone volume (P = 0.039), number of accesses (P = 0.047), and operative time (P = 0.006) as independent risk factors associated with SBL status.

CONCLUSION

Surgical complexity factors such as stone volume, number of accesses, and operative time are linked to a higher risk of SBL during PCNL. Stone volume and the requirement for multiple accesses can usually be estimated with reasonable accuracy before surgery.

The Educational Impact of Web-Based, Faculty-Led Continuing Medical Education Programs in Type 2 Diabetes: A Survey Study to Analyze Changes in Knowledge, Competence, and Performance of Health Care Professionals

BACKGROUND

The treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes (T2D) is continually evolving; therefore, ongoing education of health care professionals (HCPs) is essential. There is growing interest in measuring the impact of educational activities, such as through use of the Moore framework; however, data on the benefits of continuing medical education (CME) in the management of T2D remain limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate HCP satisfaction; measure improvements in knowledge, competence, and performance following short, case-based, multidisciplinary web-based CME activities; and identify the remaining educational gaps.

METHODS

Two faculty-led, CME-accredited, web-based educational activities on T2D and obesity, touchIN CONVERSATION and touch MultiDisciplinary Team, were developed and made available on a free-to-access medical education website. Each activity comprised 3 videos lasting 10 to 15 minutes, which addressed learning objectives developed based on a review of published literature and faculty feedback. Participant satisfaction (Moore level 2) was evaluated using a postactivity questionnaire. For both activities, changes in knowledge and competence (Moore levels 3 and 4) were assessed using questionnaires completed by representative HCPs before or after participation in the activities. A second set of HCPs completed a questionnaire before and after engaging in activities that assessed changes in self-reported performance (Moore level 5).

RESULTS

Each activity was viewed by approximately 6000 participants within 6 months. The participants expressed high levels of satisfaction (>80%) with both activities. Statistically significant improvements from baseline in knowledge and competence were reported following participation in touchIN CONVERSATION (mean score, SD before vs after activity: 4.36, 1.40 vs 5.42, 1.37; P<.001), with the proportion of learners answering at least six of 7 questions correctly, increasing from 22% (11/50) to 60% (30/50). A nonsignificant improvement in knowledge and competence was observed following participation in touch MultiDisciplinary Team (mean score, SD 4.36, 1.24 vs 4.58, 1.07; P=.35); however, baseline knowledge and competence were relatively high, where 80% of the respondents (40/50) answered at least four of 6 questions correctly. A significant improvement in HCP self-reported performance was observed in a combined analysis of both activities (mean score, SD 2.65, 1.32 vs 3.15, 1.26; P=.03), with the proportion of learners selecting the answer representing the best clinical option for all 4 questions increasing from 32% (11/34) to 59% (20/34) after the activity. Several unmet educational needs were self-reported or identified from the analysis of incorrectly answered questions, including setting individualized glycemic targets and the potential benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Short, case-based, web-based CME activities designed for HCPs to fit their clinical schedules achieved improvements in knowledge, competence, and self-reported performance in T2D management. Ongoing educational needs identified included setting individualized glycemic targets and the potential benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor therapies.

Enhancing Night and Day Circadian Contrast through Sleep Education in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence supports a causal relationship between circadian disturbance and impaired glucose homeostasis.

METHODS

To determine the effect of an educational intervention delivered by primary care nurses to improve sleep hygiene, a parallel, open-label clinical trial in subjects aged 18 and older with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was performed. Study variables were sex, age, fasting glucose, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep duration and efficiency, body mass index, antidiabetic treatment, diet and physical exercise. An individual informative educational intervention was carried out following a bidirectional feedback method. The intervention aimed to develop skills to improve sleep through nine simple tips. An analysis of covariance was performed on all the mean centred outcome variables controlling for the respective baseline scores.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, PSQI dropped, the duration and quality of sleep increased, and a decrease in fasting glucose and in HbA1c levels was observed.

CONCLUSION

The proposed intervention is effective for improving sleep quality, length and efficiency, and for decreasing fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in only 3 months. These findings support the importance of sleep and circadian rhythm education focused on improving IFG and T2DM.

Regional variation of effects of new antidiabetic medications in cardiovascular outcome trials

BACKGROUND

In international trials, glucagon-like protein-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) were effective in improving cardiovascular (CV) outcomes.

METHODS

We assessed the effect of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2Is treatment effect on CV endpoints by geographical region in multiple international trials using random effects weighted least squares meta-regressions.

RESULTS

The estimated effects of both SGLT2Is and GLP-1RAs on major adverse CV events (MACE) in North America (SGLT2Is n = 12,399, HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.81-1.01; GLP-1RAs n = 12,515, HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83- 1.09) and in Europe (SGLT2Is n = 19,435, HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.85-1.02; GLP-1RAs n = 22,812, HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.99) were numerically lower but not statistically different to the rest of the world (ROW) (SGLT2Is n = 15,127, HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.92, p-value for interaction 0.26; GLP-1RAs n = 17,494, HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.92, p-value for interaction 0.28). Effects of SGLT2Is on heart failure readmission or CV death varied significantly by region (P = 0.0094). The effect of SGLT2Is was significantly smaller in Europe (n = 18,653, HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.95) than in the ROW (n = 12,463, HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.61-0.76, P = 0.0024). The smaller effect in North America (n = 9776, HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.87) did not differ significantly from that in the ROW (P = 0.2370).

CONCLUSION

The effects of SGLT2Is on HF events are larger in the ROW. Further analyses and studies are needed to better elucidate the differential effects of SGLTIs and GLP-1RAs by geographical regions.

Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Summary Review of Recent Real-World Evidence

Optimizing glycemic control remains a shared challenge for clinicians and their patients with diabetes. Flash continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides immediate information about an individual's current and projected glucose level, allowing users to respond promptly to mitigate or prevent pending hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the glycemic benefits of flash CGM use in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, whereas RCTs are mostly focused on the efficacy of this technology in defined circumstances, real-world studies can assess its effectiveness in wider clinical settings. This review assesses the most recent real-world studies demonstrating the effectiveness of flash CGM use to improve clinical outcomes and health care resource utilization in populations with diabetes.

Effect of clinical inertia and trial participation in younger and older adults with diabetes having comorbidities and progressive complications

AIM

Clinical inertia is a multifactorial phenomenon, with contributing factors from people with diabetes and their healthcare team. It is widely cited that clinical inertia is minimised by participation in clinical trials. We assessed whether trial participation per se improves metabolic parameters in people with diabetes, or a specific focus on glycaemia is required.

METHODS

We compared improvement in glycaemic control in a pooled set of people assigned to the "placebo" arm from 25 glycaemia-focused trials with a pooled group of people with diabetes allocated to sham or non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of diabetic retinal disease. Mean change in HbA1c (ANCOVA) was evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall placebo effect in studies focused on glucose control (N = 3081) was comparable between strata groups with and without complications. Adjusted least square mean change in HbA1c at 24 weeks was between -0.23% (-2.50 mmol/mol) and -0.32% (-3.50 mmol/mol). In studies focused on retinal disease (N = 288), the change from baseline in HbA1c was +0.10% (1.10 mmol/mol) and fasting plasma glucose was +0.50 mmol/L showing no improvement in metabolic parameters at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical trial participation alone does not seem to improve metabolic parameters in people living with diabetes. The benefits observed in glycaemia-focused studies were independent of age and comorbidities.

Describing medicine therapy management of type 2 diabetes mellitus at primary health care facilities in Cape Town

Background

Rational medicine use aims to optimise chronic disease management and prevent episodes of hospitalisation that economically burden the health care system. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally, yet more than 60% of patients with diabetes are not optimally managed according to their therapeutic glycaemic targets.

Aim

To describe the use of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose results in guiding treatment changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Setting

Public sector primary health care facilities in the Cape Town Metropolitan Region in South Africa.

Method

Retrospective, descriptive study design was employed. Data for an 18-month period were collected during 2014 and 2015. Data were collected from patient medical records and included baseline demographics, laboratory monitoring tests and the patients' last three prescriptions.

Results

The study consisted of 575 participants (64% female) with an average age of 57 (± 11.38) years. The average baseline HbA1c for 493 participants with at least one result was 8.78% (± 1.63), and only 28% of these participants reached the glycaemic target at consequent consultations. HbA1c levels were available to guide 245 prescription changes, of which 181 of these results were outside of the target range. Of these, 15.5% had appropriate therapy adjustments, 78.4% had no change or a lateral change in their follow-up prescriptions, and 6.1% had therapy adjustments opposite to what guidelines suggest.

Conclusion

Glycaemic monitoring indicated consistent suboptimal glycaemic control in more than 60% of participants. Medicine prescribing patterns did not align with the prescribed local guidelines, Society for Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA). The appropriate use and interpretation of HbA1c at a clinic level should be emphasised to promote rational use of medicines that minimise acute hospitalisation episodes and optimise patients' long-term health outcomes.

A pre-specified statistical analysis plan for the VERIFY study: Vildagliptin efficacy in combination with metformin for early treatment of T2DM

AIMS

To ensure the integrity of the planned analyses and maximize the clinical utility of the VERIFY study results by describing the detailed concepts behind its statistical analysis plan (SAP) before completion of data collection and study database lock. The SAP will be adhered to for the final primary data analysis of the VERIFY trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vildagliptin efficacy in combination with metformin for early treatment of T2DM (VERIFY) is an ongoing, multicentre, randomized controlled trial aiming to demonstrate the clinical benefits of glycaemic durability and glucose control achieved with an early combination therapy in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients.

RESULTS

The SAP was initially designed at the study protocol conception phase and later modified, as reported here, in collaboration between the steering committee members, statisticians, and the VERIFY study leadership team. All authors were blinded to treatment allocation. An independent statistician has additionally retrieved and presented unblinded data to the independent data safety monitoring committee. An overview of the trial design with a focus on describing the fine-tuning of the analysis plan for the primary efficacy endpoint, risk of initial treatment failure, and secondary, exploratory and pre-specified subgroup analyses is provided here.

CONCLUSION

According to optimal trial practice, the details of the statistical analysis and data-handling plan prior to locking the database are reported here. The SAP accords with high-quality standards of internal validity to minimize analysis bias and will enhance the utility of the reported results for improved outcomes in the management of T2DM.

Study of type 2 diabetes management among patients in a Macau primary care setting

Background

In the primary care setting in Macau, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the seventh most common reason for consultation. Inadequate glycaemic control constitutes a major public health problem and is associated with premature death and disability and decreased quality of life. Moreover, this condition substantially increases healthcare expenditures.

Objective

The primary objective was to assess the successful glycaemic control rates, blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol control rates in patients with T2DM in a Macau primary care setting. The secondary objective of this study was to assess the delay of insulin initiation in the Sao Lourence Health Center.

Methods

Patients were stratified according to age (<65 years vs ≥65 years) and sex. Successful glycaemic control was defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) <7%. Successful cholesterol control was defined as a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level <2.6 mmol/L, and BP control was defined as BP <140/90 mm Hg.

Results

Among the 2157 participants included in this study, 1046 (48.5%) patients had HbA1c <7%, 1209 (56.1%) patients had BP <140/90 mm Hg and 1244 (57.7%) patients had LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L. In conclusion, only 403 (18.7%) patients met the targets for all three measures. Of the 235 patients who were on insulin therapy, the mean (±SD) duration from T2DM diagnosis to insulin initiation was 7.47±6.52 years, the mean (±SD) duration from HbA1c not meeting the target (HbA1c ≥7% over 1 year and persistently) to insulin initiation was 3.34±3.66 years and the mean baseline HbA1c was 9.13%. Compared with patients with a longer duration (≥5 years) of HbA1c not meeting the target before insulin initiation, those who started insulin within 1 year of HbA1c not meeting the target had a better glycaemic control rate (40.7% vs 13%).

Conclusions

Nearly half of the patients at Sao Lourence Health Center, a primary care centre in Macau, met the glycaemic control target, but less than one-fifth of patients met all three targets for T2DM control. Moreover, there was a delay in insulin initiation for people with T2DM.

Comparison of the Effectiveness and Safety of Vildagliptin Add-On to Metformin Versus Other Oral Dual Antidiabetes Agents in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: The China Prospective Diabetes Study

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy and safety of vildagliptin alone or with metformin is well established by randomized trials, but it is unknown whether it can be extrapolated to the real-world setting in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of vildagliptin add-on to metformin versus dual oral antidiabetes drug (OAD), non-vildagliptin combination therapies in real-world Chinese patients with T2DM.

METHODS

The China Prospective Diabetes Study was a post-marketing, prospective, multicenter, observational, real-world study conducted in 52 centers. Patients inadequately controlled with OAD monotherapy and who initiated vildagliptin add-on to metformin (VM cohort) or two OADs other than vildagliptin (comparator cohort) were included for the present analysis. The composite primary endpoint was glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <  7% and without tolerability events (hypoglycemia, weight gain ≥ 3%, or discontinuation due to gastrointestinal events) at 12 months. Secondary endpoints included change in HbA1c from baseline, subgroup analysis, and tolerability. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to adjust for baseline covariates imbalance (body mass index (BMI) and HbA1c).

RESULTS

A total of 604 patients received VM and 670 received comparator therapy. Patients who received VM were younger, more obese, and had a higher baseline HbA1c and a shorter duration of T2DM. After propensity score matching, there were 530 patients per cohort. After 12-month treatment, the success rates of the composite primary endpoint were 50.9% and 33.0% in the VM and comparator cohorts, respectively (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.64-2.70). Furthermore, the success rates of the composite endpoint were higher with VM across geographic area, BMI, and baseline HbA1c subgroups. Fewer tolerability events occurred in the VM cohort versus the comparator cohort (8.3% vs. 16.2%, P < 0.001; relative risk = 0.51, 95% CI 0.36-0.72).

CONCLUSION

Compared with dual OAD non-vildagliptin combination therapies, vildagliptin add-on to metformin is effective and safe to achieve glycemic control in Chinese patients with T2DM.

FUNDING

Novartis.

Lilly Insulin Glargine Versus Lantus® in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: India and East Asia Subpopulation Analyses of the ELEMENT 5 Study

Background and Objectives

Lilly insulin glargine (LY IGlar; Basaglar^®) and the reference insulin glargine product (IGlar; Lantus^®) are basal insulin glargine analogs with identical amino acid sequence and similar pharmacological profiles. ELEMENT 5, a Phase 3, prospective, randomized, multinational, two-arm, active-controlled, open-label, parallel-design study in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (N = 493) showed similar efficacy and safety profiles with LY IGlar and IGlar. This study reports results from India (N = 100) and East Asia (N = 134) subpopulations.

Methods

Patients from India and East Asia (Korea and Taiwan) with T2DM who were insulin naïve (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7.0% and ≤ 11.0%) or on basal insulin (HbA1c ≤ 11.0%) were randomized to receive LY IGlar or IGlar along with oral antihyperglycemic medications (OAMs) for 24 weeks. Patients were instructed to self-titrate from the starting dose by 1 unit/day until fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≤ 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) was achieved. The key outcome was HbA1c change from baseline to Week 24.

Results

Within-group least-squares mean (LSM) decrease (baseline to Week 24) in HbA1c was similar between treatments. The upper limit of confidence interval (CI) for treatment difference was below the defined 0.4% noninferiority margin in India (LY IGlar: − 0.83%; IGlar: − 0.62%; difference [95% CI] − 0.21 [− 0.70, 0.28]) and East Asia (LY IGlar: − 1.28%; IGlar: − 1.26%; difference [95% CI] − 0.02 [− 0.34, 0.30]) subpopulations. Results of other efficacy and safety endpoints at Week 24 were similar between treatments in both subpopulations. LSM self-monitored FBG levels were similar between treatments at all visits in both subpopulations except at Week 24 in the India subpopulation (LY IGlar: 5.65 [0.10] mmol/L or 101.8 [1.86] mg/dL; IGlar: 5.18 [0.10] mmol/L or 93.3 [1.75] mg/dL; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Efficacy and safety profiles of LY IGlar and IGlar, in combination with OAMs, were similar in India and East Asia subpopulations. This was consistent with the ELEMENT 5 total population.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT02302716.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40261-019-00798-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Efficacy of different antidiabetic drugs based on metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A network meta-analysis involving eight eligible randomized-controlled trials

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases globally and it is increasing in prevalence. It is one of the most expensive diseases with respect to total health care costs per patient as a result of its chronic nature and its severe complications. To provide a more effective treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), this study aims to compare different efficacies of six kinds of hypoglycemic drugs based on metformin, including glimepiride, pioglitazone, exenatide, glibenclamide, rosiglitazone, and vildagliptin, in T2DM by a network meta-analysis that were verified by randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). Eight eligible RCT in consistency with the aforementioned six hypoglycemic drugs for T2DM were included. The results of network meta-analysis demonstrated that the exenatide + metformin and vildagliptin + metformin regimens presented with better efficacy. Patients with T2DM with unsatisfactory blood glucose control based on diet control, proper exercise, and metformin treatment were included. The original regimen and dose of medication were unchanged, followed by the addition of glimepiride, pioglitazone, exenatide, glibenclamide, rosiglitazone, and vildagliptin. The results of RCTs showed that all these six kinds of drugs reduced the HbA1c level. Compared with other regimens, exenatide + metformin reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), total cholesterol (TC), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) levels, but increased the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level; vildagliptin + metformin decreased FPI and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels; glibenclamide + metformin decreased the FPG level, but promoted HDL; and glimepiride + metformin decreased the TC level and rosiglitazone + metformin reduced the LDL level. Our findings indicated that exenatide + metformin and vildagliptin + metformin have better efficacy in T2DM since they can improve insulin sensitivity.

Diabetes mellitus as the major risk factor for mucormycosis in Mexico: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and outcomes of reported cases

Mucormycosis is an emerging infectious disease with high rates of associated mortality and morbidity. Little is known about the characteristics of mucormycosis or entomophthoromycosis occurring in Mexico. A search strategy was performed of literature published in journals found in available databases and theses published online at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) library website reporting clinical cases or clinical case series of mucormycosis and entomophthoromycosis occurring in Mexico between 1982 and 2016. Among the 418 cases identified, 72% were diabetic patients, and sinusitis accounted for 75% of the reported cases. Diabetes mellitus was not a risk factor for entomophthoromycosis. Mortality rate was 51% (125/244). Rhizopus species were the most frequent isolates (59%, 148/250). Amphotericin B deoxycholate was used in 89% of cases (204/227), while surgery and antifungal management as combined treatment was used in 90% (172/191). In diabetic individuals, this combined treatment approach was associated with a higher probability of survival (95% vs 66%, OR = 0.1, 95% CI, 0.02-0.43' P = .002). The most common complications were associated with nephrotoxicity and prolonged hospitalization due to IV antifungal therapy. An algorithm is proposed to establish an early diagnosis of rhino-orbital cerebral (ROC) mucormycosis based on standardized identification of warning signs and symptoms and performing an early direct microbiological exam and histopathological identification through a multidisciplinary medical and surgical team. In summary, diabetes mellitus was the most common risk factor for mucormycosis in Mexico; combined antifungal therapy and surgery in ROC mucormycosis significantly improved survival.

Perspectives of Patients with Insulin-Treated Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes on Hypoglycemia: Results of the HAT Observational Study in Central and Eastern European Countries

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness of hypoglycemia, the level of fear for hypoglycemia, and the response to hypoglycemic events among insulin-treated diabetes patients from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The impact of hypoglycemia on the use of healthcare resources and patient productivity was also assessed.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, non-interventional, two-part, patient self-reported questionnaire study that comprised both a retrospective cross-sectional evaluation and a prospective observational evaluation. Study participants were insulin-treated adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from CEE.

RESULTS

Most patients (85.4% T1DM and 83.6% T2DM) reported normal hypoglycemia awareness. The median hypoglycemia fear score was 5 out of 10 for T1DM and 4 out of 10 for T2DM patients. Patients increased glucose monitoring, consulted a doctor/nurse, and/or reduced the insulin dose in response to hypoglycemia. As a consequence of hypoglycemia, patients took leave from work/studies or arrived late and/or left early. Hospitalization was required for 31 (1.2%) patients with T1DM and 66 (2.1%) patients with T2DM.

CONCLUSION

Hypoglycemia impacts patients' personal and social functioning, reduces productivity, and results in additional costs, both direct (related to increased use of healthcare resources) and indirect (related to absenteeism.

FUNDING

Novo Nordisk.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Development and Post-authorisation Programme for Vildagliptin - Clinical Evidence for Optimised Management of Chronic Diseases Beyond Type 2 Diabetes

The last decade has witnessed the role of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in producing a conceptual change in early management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by shifting emphasis from a gluco-centric approach to holistically treating underlying pathophysiological processes. DPP-4 inhibitors highlighted the importance of acknowledging hypoglycaemia and weight gain as barriers to optimised care in T2DM. These complications were an integral part of diabetes management before the introduction of DPP-4 inhibitors. During the development of DPP-4 inhibitors, regulatory requirements for introducing new agents underwent substantial changes, with increased emphasis on safety. This led to the systematic collection of adjudicated cardiovascular (CV) safety data, and, where 95% confidence of a lack of harm could not be demonstrated, the standardised CV safety studies. Furthermore, the growing awareness of the worldwide extent of T2DM demanded a more diverse approach to recruitment and participation in clinical trials. Finally, the global financial crisis placed a new awareness on the health economics of diabetes, which rapidly became the most expensive disease in the world. This review encompasses unique developments in the global landscape, and the role DPP-4 inhibitors, specifically vildagliptin, have played in research advancement and optimisation of diabetes care in a diverse population with T2DM worldwide.