How do individuals with diabetes use the accident and emergency department?

Using Structural Equation Modelling in Routine Clinical Data on Diabetes and Depression: Observational Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Large data sets comprising routine clinical data are becoming increasingly available for use in health research. These data sets contain many clinical variables that might not lend themselves to use in research. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is a statistical technique that might allow for the creation of "research-friendly" clinical constructs from these routine clinical variables and therefore could be an appropriate analytic method to apply more widely to routine clinical data.

OBJECTIVE

SEM was applied to a large data set of routine clinical data developed in East London to model well-established clinical associations. Depression is common among patients with type 2 diabetes, and is associated with poor diabetic control, increased diabetic complications, increased health service utilization, and increased health care costs. Evidence from trial data suggests that integrating psychological treatment into diabetes care can improve health status and reduce costs. Attempting to model these known associations using SEM will test the utility of this technique in routine clinical data sets.

METHODS

Data were cleaned extensively prior to analysis. SEM was used to investigate associations between depression, diabetic control, diabetic care, mental health treatment, and Accident & Emergency (A&E) use in patients with type 2 diabetes. The creation of the latent variables and the direction of association between latent variables in the model was based upon established clinical knowledge.

RESULTS

The results provided partial support for the application of SEM to routine clinical data. Overall, 19% (3106/16,353) of patients with type 2 diabetes had received a diagnosis of depression. In line with known clinical associations, depression was associated with worse diabetic control (β=.034, P<.001) and increased A&E use (β=.071, P<.001). However, contrary to expectation, worse diabetic control was associated with lower A&E use (β=-.055, P<.001) and receipt of mental health treatment did not impact upon diabetic control (P=.39). Receipt of diabetes care was associated with better diabetic control (β=-.072, P<.001), having depression (β=.018, P=.007), and receiving mental health treatment (β=.046, P<.001), which might suggest that comprehensive integrated care packages are being delivered in East London.

CONCLUSIONS

Some established clinical associations were successfully modelled in a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes in a way that made clinical sense, providing partial evidence for the utility of SEM in routine clinical data. Several issues relating to data quality emerged. Data improvement would have likely enhanced the utility of SEM in this data set.

Understanding the use of emergency department and urgent care services by diabetic patients of a Family Medicine Health Team: a retrospective observational study

Aim To understand the frequency, urgency, and rationale of emergency department and urgent care (ED/UC) use by diabetic patients of a Family Medicine Health Team (FHT).

METHODS

A retrospective, observational study with comparison control groups was conducted from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2014. A total of 693 diabetic patients were compared with two, age-standardized non-diabetic groups: one with a higher disease burden based on International Classification of Diseases 9 diagnoses and the other from a randomized patient pool. Findings The diabetic group utilized ED/UC services 1.25 and 1.92 times more often than the two control populations, consistent with that observed in other studies. Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale scores were essentially the same for the diabetic population. Only 3.1% of visits were for diabetic related emergencies, in contrast to the expected 23% by surveyed physicians of the FHT. Diabetic patient's sought treatment for cellulitis, wounds, abscesses, and infections more often than the control populations.

Emergency management of diabetes and hypoglycaemia

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycaemia is the commonest diabetic emergency and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. This study looked at the use of the emergency services by people with diabetes, with particular reference to hypoglycaemia.

METHOD

Data were collected on all attendances related to diabetes at accident and emergency departments at two district general hospitals in Surrey, UK, over a one year period.

RESULTS

Hypoglycaemia was the commonest reason for attendance at accident and emergency. The management of hypoglycaemia was variable, the most frequent method of treatment being intramuscular glucagon administered by the ambulance service. Ninety per cent of patients with hypoglycaemia were either discharged or self-discharged from the accident and emergency department, and half of these patients had no follow up arranged.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoglycaemia is the commonest diabetic emergency and current management is suboptimal. Standardised protocols and better education of healthcare professionals and patients are required.

Observational research methods. Research design II: cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies

Cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies are collectively referred to as observational studies. Often these studies are the only practicable method of studying various problems, for example, studies of aetiology, instances where a randomised controlled trial might be unethical, or if the condition to be studied is rare. Cohort studies are used to study incidence, causes, and prognosis. Because they measure events in chronological order they can be used to distinguish between cause and effect. Cross sectional studies are used to determine prevalence. They are relatively quick and easy but do not permit distinction between cause and effect. Case controlled studies compare groups retrospectively. They seek to identify possible predictors of outcome and are useful for studying rare diseases or outcomes. They are often used to generate hypotheses that can then be studied via prospective cohort or other studies.

Diabetic emergencies: Part 1. Hypoglycaemia

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, lifelong condition which can affect people of all ages, and is increasing in prevalence. Hypoglycaemia is probably the most common acute problem suffered by patients with diabetes. It is also a serious medical emergency with potentially fatal outcomes, and is the most common reason for patients with diabetes attending an accident and emergency (A&E) department. It is also a major source of anxiety for diabetics, particularly those controlled on insulin, and unfortunately, in the move towards ever tighter glycaemic control, it is inevitable that diabetics will continue to suffer from hypoglycaemia. This article examines the pathophysiology of hypoglycaemia and some of its main causes, and will look at the clinical management of the patient with hypoglycaemia, both in the community and in the A&E department. The importance of the recognition and prompt treatment of hypoglycaemia, and of the investigation of hypoglycaemia with no obvious cause are also discussed. Part 2 of the series will explore the pathophysiology and clinical management of diabetic emergencies involving hyperglycaemia, including both diabetic ketoacidosis and the rarer hypernatremic, non-ketotic coma.