TITLE:
Risk Factors for Hospitalization Due to Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Patients in Northeast Thailand
AUTHORS:
Thuanjai Poosakaew, Pattapong Kesssomboon, John F. Smith
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin, Hypoglycemia, Hospitalization Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Diabetes Mellitus,
Vol.4 No.3,
July
31,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Hypoglycemia
among diabetic patients is a major complication, which results in high
morbidity and mortality. Hospitalization provides the inadequate patient care
and management. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the potential
risk factors for hospitalization due to hypoglycemia among diabetic patients.
Method: In a case-control study, the cases were diabetic patients admitted due
to hypoglycemia. Controls were diabetic patients admitted for other reasons.
The cases and control subjects were recruited from the inpatient department of
the middle level hospital in Northeast Thailand. The total sample size was 360
patients who met the criteria and had been hospitalized. The number of case was
90, and the number of controls was 270. The data were analyzed by determining
the adjusted odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval of the ORs using multiple
logistic regression models. Results: Using a multivariate logistic regression
model, five variables were significantly associated with hospitalization due to
hypoglycemia among diabetic patients: 1) patients who received insulin
injections (AOR = 20.75; 95% CI: 4.7 - 91.41; p = 0.001); 2) patients who did
not carry sugar candy or a dessert with them at all times (AOR = 13.89; 95% CI:
1.92 - 100.31; p = 0.01); 3) patients with an occurrence of hypoglycemia at
least once a week at home(AOR = 8.83; 95% CI: 2.58 - 30.20; p = 0.001); 4)
patients who were adjusted for doses of medication on their own (AOR = 6.62;
95% CI: 1.30 - 33.70; p = 0.02); and 5) patients who lacked knowledge did not
understand the causes and symptoms of low blood sugar (AOR = 7.97; 95% CI: 1.97
- 32.22; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Receiving insulin injection and poor knowledge
and self-care of hypoglycemia prevention were the best predictors of
hospitalization due to hypoglycemia among diabetic patients. These factors need
to be adequately addressed in order to provide better care and management to
prevent hospitalization among diabetic patients.