Verification of Kumamoto Declaration 2013 and Glycemic Targets for Elderly Patients with Diabetes in Japan for prevention of diabetic complications: A retrospective longitudinal study using outpatient clinical data

Impact of Type 2 Diabetes and Glycated Hemoglobin Levels Within the Recommended Target Range on Mortality in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Receiving Care at a Memory Clinic: NCGG-STORIES

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels within the recommended target range according to the Japan Diabetes Society/Japan Geriatrics Society Joint Committee on mortality in older adults with cognitive impairment.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 1,528 and 468 patients aged ≥65 years without and with type 2 diabetes, respectively, who were visiting a memory clinic. The 468 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into three groups (within, above, and below the target range) based on their HbA1c levels, cognitive function, ability to perform activities of daily living, and medications associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia. The impact of diabetes and HbA1c levels on mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 3.8 years, 353 patients (17.7%) died. Compared with individuals without type 2 diabetes, HbA1c levels above (hazard ratio [HR] 1.70, 95% CI 1.08-2.69) and below (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.33-3.48) the target range were associated with a higher risk of death; however, HbA1c levels within the target range were not (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77-1.36).

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c levels above and below the target range were associated with a higher risk of mortality, whereas patients with HbA1c levels within the target range did not exhibit a higher risk of mortality than individuals without type 2 diabetes. These results provide empirical support for the current target ranges among older adults with cognitive impairment.

Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Adults in Korea: Based on Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019 to 2020

BACKGRUOUND

We evaluated the prevalence and management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly Korean patients based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

METHODS

A total of 3,068 adults aged 65 years and older (19.8% of total population) were analyzed using KNHANES from 2019 to 2020. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates, and comorbidities were analyzed. Lifestyle behaviors and energy intake were also measured.

RESULTS

The prevalence of DM and prediabetes was 29.6% and 50.5%, respectively. The awareness, treatment and control rates were 76.4%, 73.3%, and 28.3%, respectively. The control rate was 77.0% if A1C <7.5% criteria was used. The mean A1C value of individuals with known DM was 7.1%, and 14.5% of the known DM patients had A1C ≥8.0%. Abdominal obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were combined with DM in 63.9%, 71.7%, and 70.7%, respectively, and the rate of integrated management was 36.0% (A1C <7.5% criteria). A total of 40.1% of those with DM walked regularly. The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates was higher in those with DM than in those without DM (P=0.044), while those of fat (P=0.003) and protein (P=0.025) were lower in those with DM than in those without DM in women.

CONCLUSION

In 2019 to 2020, three of 10 adults aged 65 years and older in Korea had DM, and approximately 70% of them had comorbidities. A strategy for more individualized comprehensive care for the elderly patients with DM is urgently needed.

Time trends (2012-2020) in glycated hemoglobin and adherence to the glycemic targets recommended for elderly patients by the Japan Diabetes Society/Japan Geriatrics Society Joint Committee among memory clinic patients with diabetes mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

To investigate the changes in the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and the relative status of the glycemic control related to the new glycemic targets recommended by the Japan Diabetes Society/Japan Geriatrics Society Joint Committee in 2016 in patients with diabetes mellitus visiting a memory clinic from 2012 to 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1,436 patients aged ≥65 years with diabetes. Patients were categorized into three categories as follows: category I, intact cognitive function and activities of daily living (ADL); category II, mild cognitive deficits or impaired instrumental ADL; and category III, moderate to severe cognitive impairment or impaired basic ADL. Trends in HbA1c levels, glycemic control status (optimally/poorly/excessively controlled) and proportion of individuals receiving drugs potentially associated with severe hypoglycemia among all patients and categories (I, II or III) from 2012 to 2020 were examined using linear, logistic and multinominal logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Between 2012 and 2020, the HbA1c levels, as well as the proportion of patients with poor glycemic control, increased, whereas the proportion of patients with excessive glycemic control and those receiving drugs potentially associated with severe hypoglycemia decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased levels of HbA1c and decreased proportions of individuals under excessive glycemic control might reflect recent treatment strategies that avoid hypoglycemia in older patients. Given the adverse complications associated with hyperglycemia, more flexible and individualized glycemic targets based on comprehensive assessments, including vascular complications and comorbidities, might be necessary.

Development and validation of an equation to predict the incidence of coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan

Objective

In the diabetes treatment policy after the Kumamoto Declaration 2013, it is difficult to accurately predict the incidence of complications in patients using the JJ risk engine. This study was conducted to develop a prediction equation suitable for the current diabetes treatment policy using patient data from Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital (Hospital A) and to externally validate the developed equation using patient data from Kitasato University Hospital (Hospital B). Outlier tests were performed on the patient data from Hospital A to exclude the outliers. Prediction equation was developed using the patient data excluding the outliers and was subjected to external validation.

Results

By excluding outlier data, we could develop a new prediction equation for the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) as a complication of type 2 diabetes, incorporating the use of antidiabetic drugs with a high risk of hypoglycemia. This is the first prediction equation in Japan that incorporates the use of antidiabetic drugs. We believe that it will be useful in preventive medicine for treatment for people at high risk of CHD as a complication of diabetes or other diseases. In the future, we would like to confirm the accuracy of this equation at other facilities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05844-w.

A retrospective study on the usefulness of the JJ risk engine for predicting the incidence rate of coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetes patients

Objective

In 2018, we conducted a retrospective survey using the medical records of 484 patients with type 2 diabetes. The observed value of coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence after 5 years and the predicted value by the JJ risk engine as of 2013 were compared and verified using the discrimination and calibration values.

Results

Among the total cases analyzed, the C-statistic was 0.588, and the calibration was p < 0.05; thus, the JJ risk engine could not correctly predict the risk of CHD. However, in the group expected to have a low frequency of hypoglycemia, the C-statistic was 0.646; the predictability of the JJ risk engine was relatively accurate. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately predict the complication rate of patients using the JJ risk engine based on the diabetes treatment policy after the Kumamoto Declaration 2013. The JJ risk engine has several input items (variables), and it is difficult to satisfy them all unless the environment is well-equipped with testing facilities, such as a university hospital. Therefore, it is necessary to create a new risk engine that requires fewer input items than the JJ risk engine and is applicable to several patients.

Comparison of HbA1c levels and body mass index for prevention of diabetic kidney disease: A retrospective longitudinal study using outpatient clinical data in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

This study examined the association among the onset of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), blood glucose levels (HbA1_C), and body mass index (BMI) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

Patients eligible for this study included those with type 2 diabetes who visited the outpatient clinic at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital between 2000 and 2018 and were followed up for more than two years. The Cox proportional hazards model was used in four categories of subjects: at the beginning of the follow-up period, "controlled" or "uncontrolled" glycemic control based on HbA1c and "overweight" or "non-overweight" based on BMI.

RESULTS

After dividing the participants into four categories according to HbA1c (lower than 7.0% (C) or higher (U)), and BMI (25 kg/m² or higher (O) or lower (N)), hazard ratios for groups CO, UN, and UO were 1.40 (95% CI 1.03-1.90, P = 0.030), 1.40 (1.04-1.88, P = 0.027), and 1.54 (1.12-2.11, P = 0.008), respectively, compared with the CN reference group, after adjustment was made for age, sex, duration of diabetes, and medication for hypertension or dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSION

Maintenance of both an HbA1c level lower than 7.0% and a BMI lower than 25 kg/m² was important for the prevention of DKD in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Both factors had a similar effect on DKD in this study.