Diabetes

WASHINGTON – Treatment of patients acutely hospitalized for heart failure with the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin led to a rapid incremental increase in patient well-being, compared with control patients who received placebo, that appeared after 2 weeks on treatment in a secondary analysis from 530 randomized patients in the EMPULSE trial.

To Mikhail N. Kosiborod, MD, a coinvestigator for EMPULSE who presented new analysis at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology, the message from the quick response of acutely hospitalized patients to empagliflozin was clear: “Use these medications, SGLT2 [sodium-glucose cotransporter 2] inhibitors, as early as possible. We’ve seen with other medications that if they are not prescribed during hospitalization it’s unlikely to happen post discharge,” said Dr. Kosiborod, a cardiologist and codirector of the Haverty Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo.

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

“To our knowledge, the very early improvement in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ] score – a well-known predictor of cardiovascular death and heart failure readmissions – that we observed with empagliflozin at 15 days is the first such observation, and if corroborated by future studies would suggest that initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors during hospitalization for acute heart failure may be a tool for improving the quality of hospital-to-home transitions,” wrote Dr. Kosiborod and his associates in the published version of their report that appeared concurrently with his report at the meeting.

“These data really support initiation [of empagliflozin or another SGLT2 inhibitor] in hospital, presuming that the patient has no contraindications,” commented Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston and designated discussant for the report.

“The fact that the benefit kicks in so early is really important, because there is a bit of a penalty to wait” to start treatment with an agent from the SGLT2-inhibitor class, added Dr. Bhatt, who is also executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Health, in Boston.

In hospital creates a teachable moment

Starting treatment when a patient is hospitalized is also important as “a teachable moment,” added Dr. Bhatt in an interview. “A physician can say to a patient ‘take this drug, and it will prevent you from returning to the hospital,’ at a time when it’s more likely to be impactful, compared with when a patient is out of the hospital and feeling okay and adherence will likely be much lower.”

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

The results Dr. Kosiborod reported on quality-of-life parameters measured with the KCCQ expanded on what he and his coinvestigators first reported in 2021 with the primary results from EMPULSE, which enrolled 530 patients at 118 centers in 15 countries during June 2020–February 2021. The trial randomized patients hospitalized for acute heart failure after a brief period of stabilization regardless of their left ventricular ejection fraction or presence of diabetes to receive a single, daily dose of 10 mg of empagliflozin (Jardiance) or placebo starting a median of 3 days after admission. Enrolled patients averaged about 71 years of age, about two-thirds were men, 45% had diabetes, 32% had left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, and about two-thirds had decompensated chronic heart failure, while a third had acute de novo heart failure.

The primary outcome for EMPULSE was a combined endpoint of “total clinical endpoints” that included all-cause mortality, heart failure events (heart failure hospitalizations, urgent heart failure visits, and unplanned outpatient heart failure visits) or at least a 5-point change from baseline in the KCCQ score. Using a “win ratio” method for analyzing the composite endpoint, the primary analysis showed that treatment with empagliflozin for 90 days boosted the win ratio by a significant 36% relative to placebo (Nature Med. 2022 Mar;28[3]: 568-74).
 

Benefit independent of baseline symptomatic impairment

Among the new secondary analyses that Dr. Kosiborod reported was a post-hoc calculation that divided the study cohort into tertiles of baseline KCCQ score. The results showed that the degree of improvement for the primary, 90-day outcome of “total clinical benefit” compared with placebo was consistent across all three KCCQ-score tertiles, showing that empagliflozin’s benefit was “independent of symptomatic impairment at baseline,” he said.

The degree of improvement was also similar across all the tested domains of the KCCQ, including the overall summary, clinical summary, the physical limitations, and quality-of-life scores. Average improvement in KCCQ total symptom score 15 days after treatment onset was 5.35 points, compared with control patients. On an individual-patient basis, a change in KCCQ score of 5 points or more was previously shown to represent a clinically meaningful change.

“Treatment of patients with heart failure is geared to making patients live longer and stay out of the hospital. Enabling patients to feel better is an equally important goal of management, but not all treatments for heart failure can do that. These data from EMPULSE show that, in addition to other clinical benefits, patients also feel better on an SGLT2 inhibitor after just 2 weeks,” Dr. Kosiborod said in an interview.

EMPULSE builds on SOLOIST-WHF

EMPULSE is the second trial to show that an SGLT2 inhibitor can safely and effectively treat patients hospitalized for acute heart failure. Previously, results from the SOLOIST-WHF pivotal trial, which enrolled 1,222 patients with type 2 diabetes recently hospitalized for worsening heart failure, showed that treatment with an investigational, combined SGLT2 and SGLT1 inhibitor, sotagliflozin, resulted in a significant, 33% relative reduction in the primary outcome compared with placebo after a median 9 months of treatment.

“It’s reassuring to see two different drugs and research groups get essentially the same result, showing that starting an SGLT2 inhibitor is safe and effective in selected patients with no contraindications,” said Dr. Bhatt, who was lead investigator for SOLOIST-WHF.

The accumulating evidence for the safety and value of starting an SGLT2 inhibitor when patients are hospitalized for acute heart failure is making this approach increasingly routine for patients who present with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction at Saint Luke’s-Mid America Heart Institute, said Dr. Kosiborod, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

“I think we’ll also gradually start using [an SGLT2 inhibitor] in patients hospitalized with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF],” he added, based on the findings from SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE, and also recent evidence showing safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFpEF in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial, and for dapagliflozin (Farxiga) in the PRESERVED-HF trial.

Empagliflozin recently received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration an expanded label indication for treating patients with heart failure with no specification for a level of left ventricular ejection fraction. An outcome trial of dapagliflozin in more than 6,000 patients with HFpEF, DELIVER, is currently ongoing but is expected to report results soon.

“The evidence is already compelling that the benefits outweigh the risk. Results from both SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE show that there are no significant safety concerns” when these agents are used in patients with acute heart failure,” Dr. Kosiborod declared.

EMPULSE was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, the companies that jointly market empagliflozin (Jardiance). SOLOIST-WHF was sponsored by Sanofi and Lexicon, the companies that have been developing sotagliflozin. Dr. Kosiborod has been a consultant to and received research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, and he has been a consultant or adviser to or led trials on behalf of numerous other companies. Dr. Bhatt has been an adviser to Boehringer Ingelheim and numerous other companies, and he has received research funding from Sanofi, Lexicon, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and numerous other companies.

WASHINGTON – Treatment of patients acutely hospitalized for heart failure with the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin led to a rapid incremental increase in patient well-being, compared with control patients who received placebo, that appeared after 2 weeks on treatment in a secondary analysis from 530 randomized patients in the EMPULSE trial.

To Mikhail N. Kosiborod, MD, a coinvestigator for EMPULSE who presented new analysis at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology, the message from the quick response of acutely hospitalized patients to empagliflozin was clear: “Use these medications, SGLT2 [sodium-glucose cotransporter 2] inhibitors, as early as possible. We’ve seen with other medications that if they are not prescribed during hospitalization it’s unlikely to happen post discharge,” said Dr. Kosiborod, a cardiologist and codirector of the Haverty Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo.

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

“To our knowledge, the very early improvement in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ] score – a well-known predictor of cardiovascular death and heart failure readmissions – that we observed with empagliflozin at 15 days is the first such observation, and if corroborated by future studies would suggest that initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors during hospitalization for acute heart failure may be a tool for improving the quality of hospital-to-home transitions,” wrote Dr. Kosiborod and his associates in the published version of their report that appeared concurrently with his report at the meeting.

“These data really support initiation [of empagliflozin or another SGLT2 inhibitor] in hospital, presuming that the patient has no contraindications,” commented Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston and designated discussant for the report.

“The fact that the benefit kicks in so early is really important, because there is a bit of a penalty to wait” to start treatment with an agent from the SGLT2-inhibitor class, added Dr. Bhatt, who is also executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Health, in Boston.

In hospital creates a teachable moment

Starting treatment when a patient is hospitalized is also important as “a teachable moment,” added Dr. Bhatt in an interview. “A physician can say to a patient ‘take this drug, and it will prevent you from returning to the hospital,’ at a time when it’s more likely to be impactful, compared with when a patient is out of the hospital and feeling okay and adherence will likely be much lower.”

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

The results Dr. Kosiborod reported on quality-of-life parameters measured with the KCCQ expanded on what he and his coinvestigators first reported in 2021 with the primary results from EMPULSE, which enrolled 530 patients at 118 centers in 15 countries during June 2020–February 2021. The trial randomized patients hospitalized for acute heart failure after a brief period of stabilization regardless of their left ventricular ejection fraction or presence of diabetes to receive a single, daily dose of 10 mg of empagliflozin (Jardiance) or placebo starting a median of 3 days after admission. Enrolled patients averaged about 71 years of age, about two-thirds were men, 45% had diabetes, 32% had left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, and about two-thirds had decompensated chronic heart failure, while a third had acute de novo heart failure.

The primary outcome for EMPULSE was a combined endpoint of “total clinical endpoints” that included all-cause mortality, heart failure events (heart failure hospitalizations, urgent heart failure visits, and unplanned outpatient heart failure visits) or at least a 5-point change from baseline in the KCCQ score. Using a “win ratio” method for analyzing the composite endpoint, the primary analysis showed that treatment with empagliflozin for 90 days boosted the win ratio by a significant 36% relative to placebo (Nature Med. 2022 Mar;28[3]: 568-74).
 

Benefit independent of baseline symptomatic impairment

Among the new secondary analyses that Dr. Kosiborod reported was a post-hoc calculation that divided the study cohort into tertiles of baseline KCCQ score. The results showed that the degree of improvement for the primary, 90-day outcome of “total clinical benefit” compared with placebo was consistent across all three KCCQ-score tertiles, showing that empagliflozin’s benefit was “independent of symptomatic impairment at baseline,” he said.

The degree of improvement was also similar across all the tested domains of the KCCQ, including the overall summary, clinical summary, the physical limitations, and quality-of-life scores. Average improvement in KCCQ total symptom score 15 days after treatment onset was 5.35 points, compared with control patients. On an individual-patient basis, a change in KCCQ score of 5 points or more was previously shown to represent a clinically meaningful change.

“Treatment of patients with heart failure is geared to making patients live longer and stay out of the hospital. Enabling patients to feel better is an equally important goal of management, but not all treatments for heart failure can do that. These data from EMPULSE show that, in addition to other clinical benefits, patients also feel better on an SGLT2 inhibitor after just 2 weeks,” Dr. Kosiborod said in an interview.

EMPULSE builds on SOLOIST-WHF

EMPULSE is the second trial to show that an SGLT2 inhibitor can safely and effectively treat patients hospitalized for acute heart failure. Previously, results from the SOLOIST-WHF pivotal trial, which enrolled 1,222 patients with type 2 diabetes recently hospitalized for worsening heart failure, showed that treatment with an investigational, combined SGLT2 and SGLT1 inhibitor, sotagliflozin, resulted in a significant, 33% relative reduction in the primary outcome compared with placebo after a median 9 months of treatment.

“It’s reassuring to see two different drugs and research groups get essentially the same result, showing that starting an SGLT2 inhibitor is safe and effective in selected patients with no contraindications,” said Dr. Bhatt, who was lead investigator for SOLOIST-WHF.

The accumulating evidence for the safety and value of starting an SGLT2 inhibitor when patients are hospitalized for acute heart failure is making this approach increasingly routine for patients who present with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction at Saint Luke’s-Mid America Heart Institute, said Dr. Kosiborod, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

“I think we’ll also gradually start using [an SGLT2 inhibitor] in patients hospitalized with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF],” he added, based on the findings from SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE, and also recent evidence showing safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFpEF in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial, and for dapagliflozin (Farxiga) in the PRESERVED-HF trial.

Empagliflozin recently received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration an expanded label indication for treating patients with heart failure with no specification for a level of left ventricular ejection fraction. An outcome trial of dapagliflozin in more than 6,000 patients with HFpEF, DELIVER, is currently ongoing but is expected to report results soon.

“The evidence is already compelling that the benefits outweigh the risk. Results from both SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE show that there are no significant safety concerns” when these agents are used in patients with acute heart failure,” Dr. Kosiborod declared.

EMPULSE was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, the companies that jointly market empagliflozin (Jardiance). SOLOIST-WHF was sponsored by Sanofi and Lexicon, the companies that have been developing sotagliflozin. Dr. Kosiborod has been a consultant to and received research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, and he has been a consultant or adviser to or led trials on behalf of numerous other companies. Dr. Bhatt has been an adviser to Boehringer Ingelheim and numerous other companies, and he has received research funding from Sanofi, Lexicon, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and numerous other companies.

WASHINGTON – Treatment of patients acutely hospitalized for heart failure with the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin led to a rapid incremental increase in patient well-being, compared with control patients who received placebo, that appeared after 2 weeks on treatment in a secondary analysis from 530 randomized patients in the EMPULSE trial.

To Mikhail N. Kosiborod, MD, a coinvestigator for EMPULSE who presented new analysis at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology, the message from the quick response of acutely hospitalized patients to empagliflozin was clear: “Use these medications, SGLT2 [sodium-glucose cotransporter 2] inhibitors, as early as possible. We’ve seen with other medications that if they are not prescribed during hospitalization it’s unlikely to happen post discharge,” said Dr. Kosiborod, a cardiologist and codirector of the Haverty Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo.

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

“To our knowledge, the very early improvement in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ] score – a well-known predictor of cardiovascular death and heart failure readmissions – that we observed with empagliflozin at 15 days is the first such observation, and if corroborated by future studies would suggest that initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors during hospitalization for acute heart failure may be a tool for improving the quality of hospital-to-home transitions,” wrote Dr. Kosiborod and his associates in the published version of their report that appeared concurrently with his report at the meeting.

“These data really support initiation [of empagliflozin or another SGLT2 inhibitor] in hospital, presuming that the patient has no contraindications,” commented Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston and designated discussant for the report.

“The fact that the benefit kicks in so early is really important, because there is a bit of a penalty to wait” to start treatment with an agent from the SGLT2-inhibitor class, added Dr. Bhatt, who is also executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Health, in Boston.

In hospital creates a teachable moment

Starting treatment when a patient is hospitalized is also important as “a teachable moment,” added Dr. Bhatt in an interview. “A physician can say to a patient ‘take this drug, and it will prevent you from returning to the hospital,’ at a time when it’s more likely to be impactful, compared with when a patient is out of the hospital and feeling okay and adherence will likely be much lower.”

Mitchel L. Zoler/MDedge News

The results Dr. Kosiborod reported on quality-of-life parameters measured with the KCCQ expanded on what he and his coinvestigators first reported in 2021 with the primary results from EMPULSE, which enrolled 530 patients at 118 centers in 15 countries during June 2020–February 2021. The trial randomized patients hospitalized for acute heart failure after a brief period of stabilization regardless of their left ventricular ejection fraction or presence of diabetes to receive a single, daily dose of 10 mg of empagliflozin (Jardiance) or placebo starting a median of 3 days after admission. Enrolled patients averaged about 71 years of age, about two-thirds were men, 45% had diabetes, 32% had left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, and about two-thirds had decompensated chronic heart failure, while a third had acute de novo heart failure.

The primary outcome for EMPULSE was a combined endpoint of “total clinical endpoints” that included all-cause mortality, heart failure events (heart failure hospitalizations, urgent heart failure visits, and unplanned outpatient heart failure visits) or at least a 5-point change from baseline in the KCCQ score. Using a “win ratio” method for analyzing the composite endpoint, the primary analysis showed that treatment with empagliflozin for 90 days boosted the win ratio by a significant 36% relative to placebo (Nature Med. 2022 Mar;28[3]: 568-74).
 

Benefit independent of baseline symptomatic impairment

Among the new secondary analyses that Dr. Kosiborod reported was a post-hoc calculation that divided the study cohort into tertiles of baseline KCCQ score. The results showed that the degree of improvement for the primary, 90-day outcome of “total clinical benefit” compared with placebo was consistent across all three KCCQ-score tertiles, showing that empagliflozin’s benefit was “independent of symptomatic impairment at baseline,” he said.

The degree of improvement was also similar across all the tested domains of the KCCQ, including the overall summary, clinical summary, the physical limitations, and quality-of-life scores. Average improvement in KCCQ total symptom score 15 days after treatment onset was 5.35 points, compared with control patients. On an individual-patient basis, a change in KCCQ score of 5 points or more was previously shown to represent a clinically meaningful change.

“Treatment of patients with heart failure is geared to making patients live longer and stay out of the hospital. Enabling patients to feel better is an equally important goal of management, but not all treatments for heart failure can do that. These data from EMPULSE show that, in addition to other clinical benefits, patients also feel better on an SGLT2 inhibitor after just 2 weeks,” Dr. Kosiborod said in an interview.

EMPULSE builds on SOLOIST-WHF

EMPULSE is the second trial to show that an SGLT2 inhibitor can safely and effectively treat patients hospitalized for acute heart failure. Previously, results from the SOLOIST-WHF pivotal trial, which enrolled 1,222 patients with type 2 diabetes recently hospitalized for worsening heart failure, showed that treatment with an investigational, combined SGLT2 and SGLT1 inhibitor, sotagliflozin, resulted in a significant, 33% relative reduction in the primary outcome compared with placebo after a median 9 months of treatment.

“It’s reassuring to see two different drugs and research groups get essentially the same result, showing that starting an SGLT2 inhibitor is safe and effective in selected patients with no contraindications,” said Dr. Bhatt, who was lead investigator for SOLOIST-WHF.

The accumulating evidence for the safety and value of starting an SGLT2 inhibitor when patients are hospitalized for acute heart failure is making this approach increasingly routine for patients who present with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction at Saint Luke’s-Mid America Heart Institute, said Dr. Kosiborod, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

“I think we’ll also gradually start using [an SGLT2 inhibitor] in patients hospitalized with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF],” he added, based on the findings from SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE, and also recent evidence showing safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFpEF in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial, and for dapagliflozin (Farxiga) in the PRESERVED-HF trial.

Empagliflozin recently received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration an expanded label indication for treating patients with heart failure with no specification for a level of left ventricular ejection fraction. An outcome trial of dapagliflozin in more than 6,000 patients with HFpEF, DELIVER, is currently ongoing but is expected to report results soon.

“The evidence is already compelling that the benefits outweigh the risk. Results from both SOLOIST-WHF and EMPULSE show that there are no significant safety concerns” when these agents are used in patients with acute heart failure,” Dr. Kosiborod declared.

EMPULSE was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, the companies that jointly market empagliflozin (Jardiance). SOLOIST-WHF was sponsored by Sanofi and Lexicon, the companies that have been developing sotagliflozin. Dr. Kosiborod has been a consultant to and received research funding from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly, and he has been a consultant or adviser to or led trials on behalf of numerous other companies. Dr. Bhatt has been an adviser to Boehringer Ingelheim and numerous other companies, and he has received research funding from Sanofi, Lexicon, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and numerous other companies.

Between 2014 and 2020, the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States increased among women with gestational diabetes, with persisting differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity, according to a report in JAMA

“[Previous] population-based studies on racial and ethnic disparities in gestational diabetes have focused on differences in the rate of diagnosis, rather than adverse pregnancy outcomes,” lead author Kartik K. Venkatesh, MD, PhD, of Ohio State University, Columbus, and colleagues explained.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study to evaluate whether the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes with gestational diabetes changed over time and whether the risk of these outcomes differed by maternal race and ethnicity.

The data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files. Exposures of interest were year of delivery, as well as race and ethnicity.
 

Results

The study cohort included 1,560,822 pregnant women with gestational diabetes aged 15-44 years. Among the study participants the mean age was 31 years (standard deviation, 5.5 years) and the majority were White (48%), followed by Hispanic/Latina (27%), Asian/Pacific Islander (13%), and Black (12%).

There was a significant increase in the overall frequency of transfusion (8.0%; 95% confidence interval, 3.8%-12.4%), preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (4.2%; 95% CI, 3.3%-5.2%), NICU admission (1.0%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.7%), and preterm birth at less than 37 weeks (0.9%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.5%) from 2014 to 2020 for these women and their infants.

In addition, there was a significant decrease in the following outcomes: macrosomia (–4.7%; 95% CI, –5.3% to –4.0%), cesarean delivery (–1.4%; 95% CI, –1.7% to –1.1%), primary cesarean delivery (–1.2%; 95% CI, –1.5% to –0.9%), and large for gestational age (–2.3%; 95% CI, –2.8% to –1.8%), but there was no significant differences in maternal ICU admission and small-for-gestational-age infants.

From 2014 through 2020, differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity persisted; in comparison with Whites, Black participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for macrosomia and large for gestational age.

Hispanic/Latina and Asian/Pacific Islander individuals were also at significantly higher risk of preterm birth, NICU admission, maternal ICU admission, and small for gestational age. Furthermore, American Indian participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for cesarean delivery and small for gestational age.
 

Results in context

Health policy researcher Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y. commented: “Two alarming trends highlighted by this study: 1) Racial and ethnic inequities in adverse gestational diabetes outcomes; and 2) the rising rates of gestational diabetes overall – both must and can be halted.”

“Optimizing medical management of gestational diabetes, whether through improved access to diabetes care in pregnancy, behavioral interventions, and pharmacotherapy can decrease the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes,” Dr. Venkatesh commented. “It is possible that the equitable delivery of these interventions to address glycemic control could decrease racial and ethnic disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes among individuals with gestational diabetes.”

Dr. Venkatesh and his colleagues acknowledged that a key limitation of the study was the use of administrative data; thus, inferences on maternal care improvements could not be determined.

“Further research could focus on greater understanding of racial and ethnic differences in the management of gestational diabetes,” the researchers concluded.

This study was supported by the Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program at Ohio State University. One author reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health outside of this study. The other authors reported no relevant disclosures. Dr. Hill-Briggs had no relevant disclosures.

Between 2014 and 2020, the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States increased among women with gestational diabetes, with persisting differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity, according to a report in JAMA

“[Previous] population-based studies on racial and ethnic disparities in gestational diabetes have focused on differences in the rate of diagnosis, rather than adverse pregnancy outcomes,” lead author Kartik K. Venkatesh, MD, PhD, of Ohio State University, Columbus, and colleagues explained.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study to evaluate whether the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes with gestational diabetes changed over time and whether the risk of these outcomes differed by maternal race and ethnicity.

The data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files. Exposures of interest were year of delivery, as well as race and ethnicity.
 

Results

The study cohort included 1,560,822 pregnant women with gestational diabetes aged 15-44 years. Among the study participants the mean age was 31 years (standard deviation, 5.5 years) and the majority were White (48%), followed by Hispanic/Latina (27%), Asian/Pacific Islander (13%), and Black (12%).

There was a significant increase in the overall frequency of transfusion (8.0%; 95% confidence interval, 3.8%-12.4%), preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (4.2%; 95% CI, 3.3%-5.2%), NICU admission (1.0%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.7%), and preterm birth at less than 37 weeks (0.9%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.5%) from 2014 to 2020 for these women and their infants.

In addition, there was a significant decrease in the following outcomes: macrosomia (–4.7%; 95% CI, –5.3% to –4.0%), cesarean delivery (–1.4%; 95% CI, –1.7% to –1.1%), primary cesarean delivery (–1.2%; 95% CI, –1.5% to –0.9%), and large for gestational age (–2.3%; 95% CI, –2.8% to –1.8%), but there was no significant differences in maternal ICU admission and small-for-gestational-age infants.

From 2014 through 2020, differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity persisted; in comparison with Whites, Black participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for macrosomia and large for gestational age.

Hispanic/Latina and Asian/Pacific Islander individuals were also at significantly higher risk of preterm birth, NICU admission, maternal ICU admission, and small for gestational age. Furthermore, American Indian participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for cesarean delivery and small for gestational age.
 

Results in context

Health policy researcher Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y. commented: “Two alarming trends highlighted by this study: 1) Racial and ethnic inequities in adverse gestational diabetes outcomes; and 2) the rising rates of gestational diabetes overall – both must and can be halted.”

“Optimizing medical management of gestational diabetes, whether through improved access to diabetes care in pregnancy, behavioral interventions, and pharmacotherapy can decrease the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes,” Dr. Venkatesh commented. “It is possible that the equitable delivery of these interventions to address glycemic control could decrease racial and ethnic disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes among individuals with gestational diabetes.”

Dr. Venkatesh and his colleagues acknowledged that a key limitation of the study was the use of administrative data; thus, inferences on maternal care improvements could not be determined.

“Further research could focus on greater understanding of racial and ethnic differences in the management of gestational diabetes,” the researchers concluded.

This study was supported by the Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program at Ohio State University. One author reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health outside of this study. The other authors reported no relevant disclosures. Dr. Hill-Briggs had no relevant disclosures.

Between 2014 and 2020, the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States increased among women with gestational diabetes, with persisting differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity, according to a report in JAMA

“[Previous] population-based studies on racial and ethnic disparities in gestational diabetes have focused on differences in the rate of diagnosis, rather than adverse pregnancy outcomes,” lead author Kartik K. Venkatesh, MD, PhD, of Ohio State University, Columbus, and colleagues explained.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study to evaluate whether the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes with gestational diabetes changed over time and whether the risk of these outcomes differed by maternal race and ethnicity.

The data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files. Exposures of interest were year of delivery, as well as race and ethnicity.
 

Results

The study cohort included 1,560,822 pregnant women with gestational diabetes aged 15-44 years. Among the study participants the mean age was 31 years (standard deviation, 5.5 years) and the majority were White (48%), followed by Hispanic/Latina (27%), Asian/Pacific Islander (13%), and Black (12%).

There was a significant increase in the overall frequency of transfusion (8.0%; 95% confidence interval, 3.8%-12.4%), preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (4.2%; 95% CI, 3.3%-5.2%), NICU admission (1.0%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.7%), and preterm birth at less than 37 weeks (0.9%; 95% CI, 0.3%-1.5%) from 2014 to 2020 for these women and their infants.

In addition, there was a significant decrease in the following outcomes: macrosomia (–4.7%; 95% CI, –5.3% to –4.0%), cesarean delivery (–1.4%; 95% CI, –1.7% to –1.1%), primary cesarean delivery (–1.2%; 95% CI, –1.5% to –0.9%), and large for gestational age (–2.3%; 95% CI, –2.8% to –1.8%), but there was no significant differences in maternal ICU admission and small-for-gestational-age infants.

From 2014 through 2020, differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity persisted; in comparison with Whites, Black participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for macrosomia and large for gestational age.

Hispanic/Latina and Asian/Pacific Islander individuals were also at significantly higher risk of preterm birth, NICU admission, maternal ICU admission, and small for gestational age. Furthermore, American Indian participants were at significantly higher risk of all evaluated outcomes, except for cesarean delivery and small for gestational age.
 

Results in context

Health policy researcher Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y. commented: “Two alarming trends highlighted by this study: 1) Racial and ethnic inequities in adverse gestational diabetes outcomes; and 2) the rising rates of gestational diabetes overall – both must and can be halted.”

“Optimizing medical management of gestational diabetes, whether through improved access to diabetes care in pregnancy, behavioral interventions, and pharmacotherapy can decrease the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes,” Dr. Venkatesh commented. “It is possible that the equitable delivery of these interventions to address glycemic control could decrease racial and ethnic disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes among individuals with gestational diabetes.”

Dr. Venkatesh and his colleagues acknowledged that a key limitation of the study was the use of administrative data; thus, inferences on maternal care improvements could not be determined.

“Further research could focus on greater understanding of racial and ethnic differences in the management of gestational diabetes,” the researchers concluded.

This study was supported by the Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program at Ohio State University. One author reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health outside of this study. The other authors reported no relevant disclosures. Dr. Hill-Briggs had no relevant disclosures.

Women in midlife exposed to combinations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), dubbed “forever and everywhere chemicals”, are at increased risk of developing diabetes, similar to the magnitude of risk associated with overweight and even greater than the risk associated with smoking, new research shows.

“This is the first study to examine the joint effect of PFAS on incident diabetes,” first author Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH, told this news organization.

“We showed that multiple PFAS as mixtures have larger effects than individual PFAS,” said Dr. Park, of the department of epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The results suggest that, “given that 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year in the USA, approximately 370,000 new cases of diabetes annually in the U.S. are attributable to PFAS exposure,” Dr. Park and authors note in the study, published in Diabetologia.

However, Kevin McConway, PhD, emeritus professor of applied statistics, The Open University, U.K., told the UK Science Media Centre: “[Some] doubt about cause still remains. Yes, this study does show that PFAS may increase diabetes risk in middle-aged women, but it certainly can’t rule out other explanations for its findings.”
 

Is there any way to reduce exposure?

PFASs, known to be ubiquitous in the environment and also often dubbed “endocrine-disrupting” chemicals, have structures similar to fatty acids. They have been detected in the blood of most people and linked to health concerns including pre-eclampsia, altered levels of liver enzymes, inflammation, and altered lipid and glucose metabolism.

Sources of PFAS exposure can run the gamut from nonstick cookware, food wrappers, and waterproof fabrics to cosmetics and even drinking water.

The authors note a recent Consumer Reports investigation of 118 food packaging products, for instance, which reported finding PFAS chemicals in the packaging of every fast-food chain and retailer examined, including Burger King, McDonald’s, and even more health-focused chains, such as Trader Joe’s.

While efforts to pressure industry to limit PFAS in products are ongoing, Dr. Park asserted that “PFAS exposure reduction at the individual-level is very limited, so a more important way is to change policies and to limit PFAS in the air, drinking water, and foods, etc.”

“It is impossible to completely avoid exposure to PFAS, but I think it is important to acknowledge such sources and change our mindset,” he said.

In terms of clinical practice, the authors add that “it is also important for clinicians to be aware of PFAS as unrecognized risk factors for diabetes and to be prepared to counsel patients in terms of sources of exposure and potential health effects.”
 

Prospective findings from the SWAN-MPS study

The findings come from a prospective study of 1,237 women, with a median age of 49.4 years, who were diabetes-free upon entering the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation – Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS) between 1999 and 2000 and followed until 2017.

Blood samples taken throughout the study were analyzed for serum concentrations of seven PFASs.

Over the study period, there were 102 cases of incident diabetes, representing a rate of 6 cases per 1,000 person-years. Type of diabetes was not determined, but given the age of study participants, most were assumed to have type 2 diabetes, Dr. Park and colleagues note.

namiroz/iStock/Getty Images

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Women in midlife exposed to combinations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), dubbed “forever and everywhere chemicals”, are at increased risk of developing diabetes, similar to the magnitude of risk associated with overweight and even greater than the risk associated with smoking, new research shows.

“This is the first study to examine the joint effect of PFAS on incident diabetes,” first author Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH, told this news organization.

“We showed that multiple PFAS as mixtures have larger effects than individual PFAS,” said Dr. Park, of the department of epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The results suggest that, “given that 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year in the USA, approximately 370,000 new cases of diabetes annually in the U.S. are attributable to PFAS exposure,” Dr. Park and authors note in the study, published in Diabetologia.

However, Kevin McConway, PhD, emeritus professor of applied statistics, The Open University, U.K., told the UK Science Media Centre: “[Some] doubt about cause still remains. Yes, this study does show that PFAS may increase diabetes risk in middle-aged women, but it certainly can’t rule out other explanations for its findings.”
 

Is there any way to reduce exposure?

PFASs, known to be ubiquitous in the environment and also often dubbed “endocrine-disrupting” chemicals, have structures similar to fatty acids. They have been detected in the blood of most people and linked to health concerns including pre-eclampsia, altered levels of liver enzymes, inflammation, and altered lipid and glucose metabolism.

Sources of PFAS exposure can run the gamut from nonstick cookware, food wrappers, and waterproof fabrics to cosmetics and even drinking water.

The authors note a recent Consumer Reports investigation of 118 food packaging products, for instance, which reported finding PFAS chemicals in the packaging of every fast-food chain and retailer examined, including Burger King, McDonald’s, and even more health-focused chains, such as Trader Joe’s.

While efforts to pressure industry to limit PFAS in products are ongoing, Dr. Park asserted that “PFAS exposure reduction at the individual-level is very limited, so a more important way is to change policies and to limit PFAS in the air, drinking water, and foods, etc.”

“It is impossible to completely avoid exposure to PFAS, but I think it is important to acknowledge such sources and change our mindset,” he said.

In terms of clinical practice, the authors add that “it is also important for clinicians to be aware of PFAS as unrecognized risk factors for diabetes and to be prepared to counsel patients in terms of sources of exposure and potential health effects.”
 

Prospective findings from the SWAN-MPS study

The findings come from a prospective study of 1,237 women, with a median age of 49.4 years, who were diabetes-free upon entering the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation – Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS) between 1999 and 2000 and followed until 2017.

Blood samples taken throughout the study were analyzed for serum concentrations of seven PFASs.

Over the study period, there were 102 cases of incident diabetes, representing a rate of 6 cases per 1,000 person-years. Type of diabetes was not determined, but given the age of study participants, most were assumed to have type 2 diabetes, Dr. Park and colleagues note.

namiroz/iStock/Getty Images

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Women in midlife exposed to combinations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), dubbed “forever and everywhere chemicals”, are at increased risk of developing diabetes, similar to the magnitude of risk associated with overweight and even greater than the risk associated with smoking, new research shows.

“This is the first study to examine the joint effect of PFAS on incident diabetes,” first author Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH, told this news organization.

“We showed that multiple PFAS as mixtures have larger effects than individual PFAS,” said Dr. Park, of the department of epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The results suggest that, “given that 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year in the USA, approximately 370,000 new cases of diabetes annually in the U.S. are attributable to PFAS exposure,” Dr. Park and authors note in the study, published in Diabetologia.

However, Kevin McConway, PhD, emeritus professor of applied statistics, The Open University, U.K., told the UK Science Media Centre: “[Some] doubt about cause still remains. Yes, this study does show that PFAS may increase diabetes risk in middle-aged women, but it certainly can’t rule out other explanations for its findings.”
 

Is there any way to reduce exposure?

PFASs, known to be ubiquitous in the environment and also often dubbed “endocrine-disrupting” chemicals, have structures similar to fatty acids. They have been detected in the blood of most people and linked to health concerns including pre-eclampsia, altered levels of liver enzymes, inflammation, and altered lipid and glucose metabolism.

Sources of PFAS exposure can run the gamut from nonstick cookware, food wrappers, and waterproof fabrics to cosmetics and even drinking water.

The authors note a recent Consumer Reports investigation of 118 food packaging products, for instance, which reported finding PFAS chemicals in the packaging of every fast-food chain and retailer examined, including Burger King, McDonald’s, and even more health-focused chains, such as Trader Joe’s.

While efforts to pressure industry to limit PFAS in products are ongoing, Dr. Park asserted that “PFAS exposure reduction at the individual-level is very limited, so a more important way is to change policies and to limit PFAS in the air, drinking water, and foods, etc.”

“It is impossible to completely avoid exposure to PFAS, but I think it is important to acknowledge such sources and change our mindset,” he said.

In terms of clinical practice, the authors add that “it is also important for clinicians to be aware of PFAS as unrecognized risk factors for diabetes and to be prepared to counsel patients in terms of sources of exposure and potential health effects.”
 

Prospective findings from the SWAN-MPS study

The findings come from a prospective study of 1,237 women, with a median age of 49.4 years, who were diabetes-free upon entering the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation – Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS) between 1999 and 2000 and followed until 2017.

Blood samples taken throughout the study were analyzed for serum concentrations of seven PFASs.

Over the study period, there were 102 cases of incident diabetes, representing a rate of 6 cases per 1,000 person-years. Type of diabetes was not determined, but given the age of study participants, most were assumed to have type 2 diabetes, Dr. Park and colleagues note.

namiroz/iStock/Getty Images

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Key clinical point: Colchicine use in patients with gout is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

Major finding: Colchicine users vs. nonusers had a lower cumulative incidence of T2D (18.8% vs. 25.0%) and a significantly lower risk for T2D (adjusted hazard ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.36-0.87), with the inverse association remaining significant across both sexes and different age groups.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including patients newly diagnosed with gout who used (n = 3841) and did not use (n = 7682) colchicine.

Disclosures: The study received no external funding. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Chu C-C et al. Association between clinical use of colchicine and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among gouty patients: A nationwide cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3395 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063395

Key clinical point: Colchicine use in patients with gout is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

Major finding: Colchicine users vs. nonusers had a lower cumulative incidence of T2D (18.8% vs. 25.0%) and a significantly lower risk for T2D (adjusted hazard ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.36-0.87), with the inverse association remaining significant across both sexes and different age groups.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including patients newly diagnosed with gout who used (n = 3841) and did not use (n = 7682) colchicine.

Disclosures: The study received no external funding. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Chu C-C et al. Association between clinical use of colchicine and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among gouty patients: A nationwide cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3395 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063395

Key clinical point: Colchicine use in patients with gout is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

Major finding: Colchicine users vs. nonusers had a lower cumulative incidence of T2D (18.8% vs. 25.0%) and a significantly lower risk for T2D (adjusted hazard ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.36-0.87), with the inverse association remaining significant across both sexes and different age groups.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including patients newly diagnosed with gout who used (n = 3841) and did not use (n = 7682) colchicine.

Disclosures: The study received no external funding. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Chu C-C et al. Association between clinical use of colchicine and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among gouty patients: A nationwide cohort study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3395 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063395

Key clinical point: In adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), higher albuminuria and worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) were independently associated with a higher risk for incident stroke.

Major finding: Compared with a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of <30 mg/g and no CKD, moderate (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.61; P = .010) and severe (aHR 2.29; P = .001) albuminuria and worsening CKD stages (stage 1: aHR 1.76; P = .020; stage 2: aHR 1.77; P = .012; and stage 3: aHR 2.03; P = .003) were significantly associated with a higher risk for stroke, respectively.

Study details: This study included 9170 adults with T2D from the ACCORD study, of which 156 experienced stroke events over a median follow-up of 4.9 years.

Disclosures: The study did not declare any source of funding. Dr. G Fonarow reported consulting for various sources.

Source: Kaze AD et al. Diabetic kidney disease and risk of incident stroke among adults with type 2 diabetes. BMC Med. 2022;20:127 (Mar 29). Doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02317-0

Key clinical point: In adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), higher albuminuria and worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) were independently associated with a higher risk for incident stroke.

Major finding: Compared with a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of <30 mg/g and no CKD, moderate (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.61; P = .010) and severe (aHR 2.29; P = .001) albuminuria and worsening CKD stages (stage 1: aHR 1.76; P = .020; stage 2: aHR 1.77; P = .012; and stage 3: aHR 2.03; P = .003) were significantly associated with a higher risk for stroke, respectively.

Study details: This study included 9170 adults with T2D from the ACCORD study, of which 156 experienced stroke events over a median follow-up of 4.9 years.

Disclosures: The study did not declare any source of funding. Dr. G Fonarow reported consulting for various sources.

Source: Kaze AD et al. Diabetic kidney disease and risk of incident stroke among adults with type 2 diabetes. BMC Med. 2022;20:127 (Mar 29). Doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02317-0

Key clinical point: In adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), higher albuminuria and worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) were independently associated with a higher risk for incident stroke.

Major finding: Compared with a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of <30 mg/g and no CKD, moderate (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.61; P = .010) and severe (aHR 2.29; P = .001) albuminuria and worsening CKD stages (stage 1: aHR 1.76; P = .020; stage 2: aHR 1.77; P = .012; and stage 3: aHR 2.03; P = .003) were significantly associated with a higher risk for stroke, respectively.

Study details: This study included 9170 adults with T2D from the ACCORD study, of which 156 experienced stroke events over a median follow-up of 4.9 years.

Disclosures: The study did not declare any source of funding. Dr. G Fonarow reported consulting for various sources.

Source: Kaze AD et al. Diabetic kidney disease and risk of incident stroke among adults with type 2 diabetes. BMC Med. 2022;20:127 (Mar 29). Doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02317-0

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who maintain glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of <7% vs. ≥7% during a 5-year post-period have a lower risk for diabetes-related complications.

Major finding: Maintaining an HbA1c level of <7% vs. ≥7% during the 5-year post-period was associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% CI 0.61-0.94), metabolic disease (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.22-0.60), neuropathy (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.45-0.84), nephropathy (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69-0.94), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.33-0.83).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 3067 adult patients with T2D and sustained glycemic control (HbA1c <7%; n = 2,119) or sustained suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%; n = 1,488).

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. KS Boye, R Paczkowski, and VT Thieu reported being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and MJ Lage received personal compensation from Eli Lilly.

Source: Boye KS et al. The association between sustained HbA1c control and long-term complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective study. Adv Ther. 2022 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1007/s12325-022-02106-4

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who maintain glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of <7% vs. ≥7% during a 5-year post-period have a lower risk for diabetes-related complications.

Major finding: Maintaining an HbA1c level of <7% vs. ≥7% during the 5-year post-period was associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% CI 0.61-0.94), metabolic disease (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.22-0.60), neuropathy (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.45-0.84), nephropathy (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69-0.94), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.33-0.83).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 3067 adult patients with T2D and sustained glycemic control (HbA1c <7%; n = 2,119) or sustained suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%; n = 1,488).

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. KS Boye, R Paczkowski, and VT Thieu reported being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and MJ Lage received personal compensation from Eli Lilly.

Source: Boye KS et al. The association between sustained HbA1c control and long-term complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective study. Adv Ther. 2022 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1007/s12325-022-02106-4

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who maintain glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of <7% vs. ≥7% during a 5-year post-period have a lower risk for diabetes-related complications.

Major finding: Maintaining an HbA1c level of <7% vs. ≥7% during the 5-year post-period was associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% CI 0.61-0.94), metabolic disease (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.22-0.60), neuropathy (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.45-0.84), nephropathy (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69-0.94), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.33-0.83).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 3067 adult patients with T2D and sustained glycemic control (HbA1c <7%; n = 2,119) or sustained suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%; n = 1,488).

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. KS Boye, R Paczkowski, and VT Thieu reported being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and MJ Lage received personal compensation from Eli Lilly.

Source: Boye KS et al. The association between sustained HbA1c control and long-term complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective study. Adv Ther. 2022 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1007/s12325-022-02106-4

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and severe mental illness (SMI) are at a higher risk of developing nephropathy, lower limp amputations, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but not retinopathy, compared with those with T2D and without SMI.

Major finding: Compared with patients with T2D and without SMI, those with T2D and SMI had a higher incidence rate (IR) of nephropathy (IR ratio [IRR] 1.15; 95% CI 1.12-1.18), amputations (IRR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.28), and CVD (men IRR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06-1.15, and women IRR 1.18; 95% CI 1.13-1.22), but a lower IR of retinopathy (IRR 0.75; 95% CI 0.70-0.81).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based dynamic cohort study including 371,625 patients with T2D, of which 30,102 had a coexisting SMI.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared owning shares or receiving research grants from various sources.

Source: Scheuer SH et al. Severe mental illness and the risk of diabetes complications. A nationwide register-based cohort study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac204

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and severe mental illness (SMI) are at a higher risk of developing nephropathy, lower limp amputations, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but not retinopathy, compared with those with T2D and without SMI.

Major finding: Compared with patients with T2D and without SMI, those with T2D and SMI had a higher incidence rate (IR) of nephropathy (IR ratio [IRR] 1.15; 95% CI 1.12-1.18), amputations (IRR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.28), and CVD (men IRR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06-1.15, and women IRR 1.18; 95% CI 1.13-1.22), but a lower IR of retinopathy (IRR 0.75; 95% CI 0.70-0.81).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based dynamic cohort study including 371,625 patients with T2D, of which 30,102 had a coexisting SMI.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared owning shares or receiving research grants from various sources.

Source: Scheuer SH et al. Severe mental illness and the risk of diabetes complications. A nationwide register-based cohort study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac204

Key clinical point: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and severe mental illness (SMI) are at a higher risk of developing nephropathy, lower limp amputations, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but not retinopathy, compared with those with T2D and without SMI.

Major finding: Compared with patients with T2D and without SMI, those with T2D and SMI had a higher incidence rate (IR) of nephropathy (IR ratio [IRR] 1.15; 95% CI 1.12-1.18), amputations (IRR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.28), and CVD (men IRR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06-1.15, and women IRR 1.18; 95% CI 1.13-1.22), but a lower IR of retinopathy (IRR 0.75; 95% CI 0.70-0.81).

Study details: Findings are from a population-based dynamic cohort study including 371,625 patients with T2D, of which 30,102 had a coexisting SMI.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared owning shares or receiving research grants from various sources.

Source: Scheuer SH et al. Severe mental illness and the risk of diabetes complications. A nationwide register-based cohort study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac204

Key clinical point: The preadmission antidiabetic medications may influence mortality outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Major finding: The risk for in-hospital mortality was significantly lower among patients taking metformin (odd ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.47-0.62), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.37-0.69), and sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.88), but higher among those taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.07-1.42) and insulin (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33-2.19), compared with patients taking none of these medications. Sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors showed neutral effects on mortality.

Study details: The data come from a meta-analysis of 61 studies including 3,061,584 patients with COVID-19 and T2D.

Disclosures: This study received no specific grant from any funding agency.

Source: Nguyen NN et al. Preadmission use of antidiabetic medications and mortality among patients with COVID-19 having type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis. Metabolism. 2022;131:155196 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2022.155196

Key clinical point: The preadmission antidiabetic medications may influence mortality outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Major finding: The risk for in-hospital mortality was significantly lower among patients taking metformin (odd ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.47-0.62), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.37-0.69), and sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.88), but higher among those taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.07-1.42) and insulin (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33-2.19), compared with patients taking none of these medications. Sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors showed neutral effects on mortality.

Study details: The data come from a meta-analysis of 61 studies including 3,061,584 patients with COVID-19 and T2D.

Disclosures: This study received no specific grant from any funding agency.

Source: Nguyen NN et al. Preadmission use of antidiabetic medications and mortality among patients with COVID-19 having type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis. Metabolism. 2022;131:155196 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2022.155196

Key clinical point: The preadmission antidiabetic medications may influence mortality outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Major finding: The risk for in-hospital mortality was significantly lower among patients taking metformin (odd ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.47-0.62), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.37-0.69), and sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.88), but higher among those taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.07-1.42) and insulin (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33-2.19), compared with patients taking none of these medications. Sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors showed neutral effects on mortality.

Study details: The data come from a meta-analysis of 61 studies including 3,061,584 patients with COVID-19 and T2D.

Disclosures: This study received no specific grant from any funding agency.

Source: Nguyen NN et al. Preadmission use of antidiabetic medications and mortality among patients with COVID-19 having type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis. Metabolism. 2022;131:155196 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2022.155196

Key clinical point: In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) vs. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) was associated with a lower risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute renal failure (ARF) and a slower decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Major finding: Over a median follow-up of 3.8 years, the use of SGLT2i vs. DPP4i was associated with a significantly lower risk for ESRD (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51; P < .001) and ARF (HR 0.59; P < .001) and a significantly slower decline in eGFR (−0.060 vs. −0.625 mL/min/1.73m²  per year; P_interaction < .001).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study propensity score matched 6333 patients with T2D receiving an SGLT2i with 25,332 of those receiving a DPP4i.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Au PCM et al. Association between SGLT20iInhibitors vs DPP4 inhibitors and renal outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi:  10.1210/clinem/dgac164

Key clinical point: In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) vs. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) was associated with a lower risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute renal failure (ARF) and a slower decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Major finding: Over a median follow-up of 3.8 years, the use of SGLT2i vs. DPP4i was associated with a significantly lower risk for ESRD (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51; P < .001) and ARF (HR 0.59; P < .001) and a significantly slower decline in eGFR (−0.060 vs. −0.625 mL/min/1.73m²  per year; P_interaction < .001).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study propensity score matched 6333 patients with T2D receiving an SGLT2i with 25,332 of those receiving a DPP4i.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Au PCM et al. Association between SGLT20iInhibitors vs DPP4 inhibitors and renal outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi:  10.1210/clinem/dgac164

Key clinical point: In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) vs. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) was associated with a lower risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute renal failure (ARF) and a slower decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Major finding: Over a median follow-up of 3.8 years, the use of SGLT2i vs. DPP4i was associated with a significantly lower risk for ESRD (hazard ratio [HR] 0.51; P < .001) and ARF (HR 0.59; P < .001) and a significantly slower decline in eGFR (−0.060 vs. −0.625 mL/min/1.73m²  per year; P_interaction < .001).

Study details: This retrospective cohort study propensity score matched 6333 patients with T2D receiving an SGLT2i with 25,332 of those receiving a DPP4i.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Au PCM et al. Association between SGLT20iInhibitors vs DPP4 inhibitors and renal outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi:  10.1210/clinem/dgac164

Key clinical point: Resistance training (RT) effectively reduces glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with RT interventions triggering a larger vs. medium or smaller improvement in muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c.

Major finding: RT intervention vs. control treatment significantly decreased HbA1c (weighted mean difference −0.39; P < .001), with a larger vs. medium or small effect on muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c (β −0.99; P = .0470).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 20 trials including 1172 patients with T2DM.

Disclosures: The study received no specific funding. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Jansson AK et al. Effect of resistance training on HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the moderating effect of changes in muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2022;10:e002595 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002595

Key clinical point: Resistance training (RT) effectively reduces glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with RT interventions triggering a larger vs. medium or smaller improvement in muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c.

Major finding: RT intervention vs. control treatment significantly decreased HbA1c (weighted mean difference −0.39; P < .001), with a larger vs. medium or small effect on muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c (β −0.99; P = .0470).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 20 trials including 1172 patients with T2DM.

Disclosures: The study received no specific funding. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Jansson AK et al. Effect of resistance training on HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the moderating effect of changes in muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2022;10:e002595 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002595

Key clinical point: Resistance training (RT) effectively reduces glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with RT interventions triggering a larger vs. medium or smaller improvement in muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c.

Major finding: RT intervention vs. control treatment significantly decreased HbA1c (weighted mean difference −0.39; P < .001), with a larger vs. medium or small effect on muscular strength leading to a greater reduction in HbA1c (β −0.99; P = .0470).

Study details: Findings are from a meta-analysis of 20 trials including 1172 patients with T2DM.

Disclosures: The study received no specific funding. The authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Jansson AK et al. Effect of resistance training on HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the moderating effect of changes in muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2022;10:e002595 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002595