Frequency and Severity of Hypoglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Treated with a Sulfonylurea-Based Regimen at University-Affiliated Hospitals in Korea: The Naturalistic Evaluation of Hypoglycemic Events in Diabetic Subjects Study
- Author:
Yon Su KIM
1
;
Be Long CHO
;
Woo Sik KIM
;
Sang Hyun KIM
;
In Hyeon JUNG
;
Won Yong SIN
;
Dong Hoon CHOI
;
Sang Jae LEE
;
Chun Soo LIM
;
Kyung Pyo KANG
;
Byung Yeon YU
;
Wonju JEUNG
;
Chang Gyu PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Glycated Hemoglobin A; Hypoglycemia; Sulfonylurea; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Metformin
- MeSH: Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoglycemia; Korea; Medical Records; Metformin; Retrospective Studies
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine 2019;40(4):212-219
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: We assessed the frequency and severity of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with sulfonylurea monotherapy or sulfonylurea+metformin. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study in 2011 and 2012 including patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged ≥30 years who were treated with ≥6 months of sulfonylurea monotherapy or sulfonylurea+metformin at 20 university-affiliated hospitals in Korea. At enrollment, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed; participants completed self-reported questionnaires describing hypoglycemia incidents over the past 6 months. A review of medical records up to 12 months before enrollment provided data on demographics, disease history, comorbidities, laboratory results, and drug usage. RESULTS: Of 726 enrolled patients, 719 were included (55.6% male); 31.7% and 68.3% were on sulfonylurea monotherapy and sulfonylurea+metformin, respectively. Mean±standard deviation age was 65.9±10.0 years; mean HbA1c level was 7.0%±1.0%; 77.8% of patients had hypertension (89.4% used antihypertensive medication); 60.5% had lipid disorders (72.5% used lipid-lowering medication); and 52.0% had one or more micro- or macrovascular diseases. Among patients with A1c measurement (n=717), 56.4% achieved therapeutic goals (HbA1c <7.0%); 42.4% (305/719) experienced hypoglycemia within 6 months of enrollment; and 38.8%, 12.9%, 12.7%, and 3.9% of patients experienced mild, moderate, severe, and very severe hypoglycemia symptoms, respectively. Several reported hypoglycemia frequency as 1–2 times over the last 6 months. The mean number of very severe hypoglycemia episodes was 3.5±5.5. CONCLUSION: Among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with sulfonylurea-based regimens, glycemic levels were relatively well controlled but hypoglycemia remained a prevalent side effect.
