COVID-19 hinterland: surveilling the self-reported impacts of the pandemic on diabetes management in the USA (cross-sectional results of the iNPHORM study)

Evaluating adherence to American Diabetes Association standards of care in diabetes and impacts of social determinants of health on patients at two nurse practitioner-owned clinics

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic created barriers in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and worsened social determinants of health (SDOH). A New Hampshire primary care office worked to adhere to T2DM standards of care and began screening for SDOH. This project assessed adherence to quality metrics, hemoglobin A1C, and SDOH screening as telehealth utilization decreased.

LOCAL PROBLEM

A1C values have increased at the practice, especially since COVID-19. The practice also began screening for SDOH at every visit, but there was need to assess how needs were being documented and if/how they were addressed.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients with T2DM was performed. Demographic data and T2DM metrics were collected and compared with previous years and compared new versus established patients. Charts were reviewed to evaluate documentation of SDOH and appropriate referral.

INTERVENTIONS

The practice transitioned from an increased utliization of telehealth back to prioritizing in-office visits. The practice also began routinely screening for SDOH in 2020; however, this process had not been standardized or evaluated.

RESULTS

Adherence to nearly all quality metrics improved. Glycemic control improved after a year of nurse practitioner (NP) care, especially in new patients. All patients were screened for SDOH, but documentation varied, and affected patients had higher A1Cs, despite receiving comparable care.

CONCLUSION

Nurse practitioners at this practice are adhering to American Diabetes Association guidelines, and A1C values improve under their care. Social determinants of health continue to act as unique barriers that keep patients from improving glycemic control, highlighting the need for individualized treatment of SDOH in T2DM care.

Type 2 diabetes-related health measures during the initial COVID-19 surge at an academic internal medicine practice

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted chronic disease management in the United States and across the world. This study reports minimal effects of the initial COVID-19 surge on body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose control in ambulatory general internal medicine patients with Type 2 diabetes at a single academic center.

Severe (level 3) hypoglycaemia occurrence in a real-world cohort of adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (iNPHORM, United States)

AIMS

Among adults with insulin- and/or secretagogue-treated diabetes in the United States, very little is known about the real-world descriptive epidemiology of iatrogenic severe (level 3) hypoglycaemia. Addressing this gap, we collected primary, longitudinal data to quantify the absolute frequency of events as well as incidence rates and proportions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

iNPHORM is a US-wide, 12-month ambidirectional panel survey (2020-2021). Adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or insulin- and/or secretagogue-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited from a probability-based internet panel. Participants completing ≥1 follow-up questionnaire(s) were analysed.

RESULTS

Among 978 respondents [T1DM 17%; mean age 51 (SD 14.3) years; male: 49.6%], 63% of level 3 events were treated outside the health care system (e.g. by family/friend/colleague), and <5% required hospitalization. Following the 12-month prospective period, one-third of individuals reported ≥1 event(s) [T1DM 44.2% (95% CI 36.8%-51.8%); T2DM 30.8% (95% CI 28.7%-35.1%), p = .0404, α = 0.0007]; and the incidence rate was 5.01 (95% CI 4.15-6.05) events per person-year (EPPY) [T1DM 3.57 (95% CI 2.49-5.11) EPPY; T2DM 5.29 (95% CI 4.26-6.57) EPPY, p = .1352, α = 0.0007]. Level 3 hypoglycaemia requiring non-transport emergency medical services was more common in T2DM than T1DM (p < .0001, α = 0.0016). In total, >90% of events were experienced by <15% of participants.

CONCLUSIONS

iNPHORM is one of the first long-term, prospective US-based investigations on level 3 hypoglycaemia epidemiology. Our results underscore the importance of participant-reported data to ascertain its burden. Events were alarmingly frequent, irrespective of diabetes type, and concentrated in a small subsample.

Disruptions in Lifestyle Habits and Access to Social Support in the Time of COVID-19: Associations With Diabetes Distress and Depression Among Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Living in British Columbia

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we examined rates of diabetes distress and depressive symptoms in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the COVID-19 lockdown and its association with disruptions in lifestyle habits and access to social support.

METHODS

This cross-sectional investigation included a convenience sample of 60 adults with T1D who completed a survey assessing diabetes distress (Type 1 Diabetes Distress Scale), depressive symptoms (Personal Health Questionnaire-9), and disruptions in lifestyle habits (sleep patterns, dietary patterns, exercise routine) and access to support from family/friends. Linear regression analyses examined COVID-19 disruption variables as predictors of diabetes distress and depressive severity.

RESULTS

Seventy-three percent and 38% of participants reported elevated diabetes distress and depressive symptoms, respectively. Greater eating disruption predicted higher depressive symptom severity (β=1.33, p=0.045) and eating distress (β=0.28, p=0.045). Greater social support disruption predicted higher eating distress (β=0.36, p=0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings revealed high rates of diabetes distress and depressive symptoms in this T1D sample during the COVID-19 lockdown. Moreover, disruptions in some lifestyle habits and access to social support were associated with worse mental health outcomes.

Blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol testing among adults with diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, USA, 2019 vs 2021

INTRODUCTION

Regular blood glucose/A1c, blood pressure (BP), and cholesterol (ABC) testing is important for diabetes management. It is unknown whether pandemic-related disruptions in medical care were negatively associated with ABC testing among US adults with diagnosed diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among adults ≥18 years with diagnosed diabetes who participated in the 2019 or 2021 National Health Interview Survey (n=3355 and n=3127, respectively). Adults with diabetes self-reported sociodemographic and diabetes-related characteristics, ABC testing in the past year, and delays or not getting medical care due to the pandemic (2021 only). Descriptive statistics were used to determine differences in ABC testing in 2019 vs 2021. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between delays or not getting medical care due to the pandemic and ABC testing, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes duration, and diabetes medication use.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence of having a blood glucose/A1c or a BP test in the past year was high (>90%) but it was significantly lower in 2021 compared with 2019 (A1c: 94.2% vs 96.8%, p<0.001; BP: 96.8% vs 98.4%, p=0.002, respectively). Cholesterol testing remained stable (93.0% in 2021 vs 94.5% in 2019, p=0.053). In logistic regression analysis, after full adjustment, adults who reported delaying or not getting medical care when needed due to the pandemic were 50% less likely to get an ABC test in the past year compared with those who promptly received medical care (A1c: adjusted OR (aOR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.29-0.68; BP: aOR=0.48, 95% CI 0.27-0.85; cholesterol: aOR=0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Disruptions in medical care during the pandemic were associated with a decrease in ABC testing. Future research is needed to assess whether blood glucose/A1c and BP testing returns to prepandemic levels and if reductions in these tests result in excess diabetes-related complications.

Identifying and addressing common contributors to nonadherence with ophthalmic medical therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss common reasons for nonadherence and review existing and emerging options to reduce nonadherence with ocular medical therapy and optimize therapeutic outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nonadherence can arise from patient-related issues (e.g. physical, cognitive) and healthcare-related issues (e.g. cost, access to care). Multiple strategies have been developed and evaluated to overcome these barriers to adherence. Identifying nonadherence and its cause(s) facilitates the development of strategies to overcome it.

SUMMARY

Many common causes of nonadherence can be mitigated through a variety of strategies presented.

Psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in people with type 1 diabetes: A systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

A comprehensive picture of the data on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is currently lacking. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize extant literature reporting on the effects of COVID-19 on psychological outcomes in individuals with T1D and to identify associated factors.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted with PubMed, Scopus, PychInfo, PsycArticles, ProQuest, and WoS using a selection procedure according to the PRISMA methodology. Study quality was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. In all, 44 studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people with T1D had impaired mental health, with relatively high rates of symptoms of depression (11.5-60.7%, n = 13 studies), anxiety (7-27.5%, n = 16 studies), and distress (14-86.6%, n = 21 studies). Factors associated with psychological problems include female gender, lower income, poorer diabetes control, difficulties in diabetes self-care behaviors, and complications. Of the 44 studies, 22 were of low methodological quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Taking appropriate measures to improve medical and psychological services is needed to support individuals with T1D in appropriately coping with the burden and difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent mental health problems from enduring, worsening, or having a long-term impact on physical health outcomes. Heterogeneity in measurement methods, lack of longitudinal data, the fact that most included studies did not aim to make a specific diagnosis of mental disorders limit the generalizability of the findings and have implications for practice.

4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

HYPOGLYCEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A COINCIDENCE OR A TREND?

OBJECTIVE

The aim: The purpose of this work is to analyze the available scientific information on causes and risk factors of hypoglycemia during treatment of patients with COVID-19.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: A search and analysis of full-text articles was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The search was conducted using the keywords: «hypoglycemia in COVID-19 patients», «treatment of COVID-19 and hypoglycemia» and «COVID-19 vaccination and hypoglycemia» from the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to July 1, 2022.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Hypoglycemia can be an incidental clinical finding. But it can also be a natural consequence of treatment if it is carried out without taking into account the possible hypoglycemic effects of drugs and without careful monitoring of the patient's condition. In the case of determining the program of treatment and vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with DM, the known and possible hypoglycemic effects of drugs and vaccines should be taken into account, the level of glycemia should be carefully controlled, and sudden changes in the type and dose of drugs, polypharmacy and the use of dangerous combinations of drugs should be avoided.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes services: planning for a global recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected certain groups, such as older people (ie, >65 years), minority ethnic populations, and people with specific chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and some respiratory diseases. There is now evidence of not only direct but also indirect adverse effects of COVID-19 in people with diabetes. Recurrent lockdowns and public health measures throughout the pandemic have restricted access to routine diabetes care, limiting new diagnoses, and affecting self-management, routine follow-ups, and access to medications, as well as affecting lifestyle behaviours and emotional wellbeing globally. Pre-pandemic studies have shown that short-term delays in delivery of routine care, even by 12 months, are associated with adverse effects on risk factor control and worse microvascular, macrovascular, and mortality outcomes in people with diabetes. Disruptions within the short-to-medium term due to natural disasters also result in worse diabetes outcomes. However, the true magnitude of the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term outcomes and mortality in people with diabetes is still unclear. Disasters tend to exacerbate existing health disparities; as we recover ambulatory diabetes services in the aftermath of the pandemic, there is an opportunity to prioritise those with the greatest need, and to target resources and interventions aimed at improving outcomes and reducing inequality.

Real‐world risk factors of confirmed or probable COVID ‐19 in Americans with diabetes: A prospective, community‐based study ( iNPHORM )

Introduction

Americans with diabetes are clinically vulnerable to worse COVID‐19 outcomes; thus, insight into how to prevent infection is imperative. Using longitudinal, prospective data from the real‐world iNPHORM study, we identify the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors of confirmed or probable COVID‐19 in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes.

Methods

The iNPHORM study recruited 1206 Americans (18–90 years) with insulin‐ and/or secretagogue‐treated type 1 or 2 diabetes from a probability‐based internet panel. Online questionnaires (screener, baseline and 12 monthly follow‐ups) assessed COVID‐19 incidence and various plausible intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Multivariable Cox regression was used to model the rate of COVID‐19 (confirmed or probable). Risk factors were selected using a repeated backwards‐selection ‘voting’ procedure.

Results

A sub‐sample of 817 iNPHORM participants (type 1 diabetes: 16.9%; age: 52.1 [SD: 14.2] years; female: 50.2%) was analysed between May 2020 and March 2021. During this period, 13.7% reported confirmed or probable COVID‐19. Age, body mass index, number of chronic comorbidities, most recent A1C, past severe hypoglycaemia, and employment status were selected in our final model. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m² versus <30 kg/m² (HR 1.63 [1.05; 2.52]_{95% CI}), and increased number of comorbidities (HR 1.16 [1.05; 1.27]_{95% CI}) independently predicted COVID‐19 incidence. Marginally significant effects were observed for overall A1C (p = .06) and employment status (p = .07).

Conclusions

This is the first US‐based epidemiologic investigation to characterize community‐based COVID‐19 susceptibility in diabetes. Our results reveal specific and promising avenues to prevent COVID‐19 in this at‐risk population. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04219514.

Predicting Real-world Hypoglycemia Risk in American Adults With Type 1 or 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prescribed Insulin and/or Secretagogues: Protocol for a Prospective, 12-Wave Internet-Based Panel Survey With Email Support (the iNPHORM [Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence Using Real-world Models] Study)

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia prognostic models contingent on prospective, self-reported survey data offer a powerful avenue for determining real-world event susceptibility and interventional targets.

OBJECTIVE

This protocol describes the design and implementation of the 1-year iNPHORM (Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence Using Real-world Models) study, which aims to measure real-world self-reported severe and nonsevere hypoglycemia incidence (daytime and nocturnal) in American adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus prescribed insulin and/or secretagogues, and develop and internally validate prognostic models for severe, nonsevere daytime, and nonsevere nocturnal hypoglycemia. As a secondary objective, iNPHORM aims to quantify the effects of different antihyperglycemics on hypoglycemia rates.

METHODS

iNPHORM is a prospective, 12-wave internet-based panel survey that was conducted across the United States. Americans (aged 18-90 years) with self-reported type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus prescribed insulin and/or secretagogues were conveniently sampled via the web from a pre-existing, closed, probability-based internet panel (sample frame). A sample size of 521 baseline responders was calculated for this study. Prospective data on hypoglycemia and potential prognostic factors were self-assessed across 14 closed, fully automated questionnaires (screening, baseline, and 12 monthly follow-ups) that were piloted using semistructured interviews (n=3) before fielding; no face-to-face contact was required as part of the data collection. Participant responses will be analyzed using multivariable count regression and machine learning techniques to develop and internally validate prognostic models for 1-year severe and 30-day nonsevere daytime and nocturnal hypoglycemia. The causal effects of different antihyperglycemics on hypoglycemia rates will also be investigated.

RESULTS

Recruitment and data collection occurred between February 2020 and March 2021 (ethics approval was obtained on December 17, 2019). A total of 1694 participants completed the baseline questionnaire, of whom 1206 (71.19%) were followed up for 12 months. Most follow-up waves (10,470/14,472, 72.35%) were completed, translating to a participation rate of 179% relative to our target sample size. Over 70.98% (856/1206) completed wave 12. Analyses of sample characteristics, quality metrics, and hypoglycemia incidence and prognostication are currently underway with published results anticipated by fall 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

iNPHORM is the first hypoglycemia prognostic study in the United States to leverage prospective, longitudinal self-reports. The results will contribute to improved real-world hypoglycemia risk estimation and potentially safer, more effective clinical diabetes management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04219514; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04219514.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/33726.