Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Outpatient Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Study

ABSTRACT

Background

Chronic kidney disease and hypoglycemia are common complications in individuals with diabetes. Currently, the association of renal function with hypoglycemic complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is inconclusive. This study aims to assess the associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and cumulative incidence of hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia among T2DM patients in Thailand using a nationwide patient sample.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study based on the DM/HT study of the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools. This study assessed adult T2DM patients from 831 public hospitals in Thailand in the year 2012–2013. eGFR was categorized into ≥90, 60–89, 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m². The associations between eGFR and hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia were assessed using multivariate logistic regression and Poisson regression.

Results

A total of 25,056 T2DM patients with available eGFR were included in the analysis. The mean age was 60.9 ± 10.5 years. The cumulative incidence of hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was 3.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia, mild hypoglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia was 2.99 (2.59–3.43), 2.47 (2.11–2.88), and 0.52 (0.36–0.72) per 100 patient-years, respectively. Patients with eGFR of 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m² were significantly associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and incidence of outpatient hypoglycemia when compared to patients with eGFR of ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m².

Conclusion

Reduced eGFR was independently associated with increased hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, and risk of outpatient hypoglycemia. Increasing awareness of the heightened risk of hypoglycemia with declining renal function may prompt changes to diabetic management for at-risk individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypoglycemia
• hospitalization
• renal function
• Type 2 diabetes
• chronic kidney disease

Authors’ Contributions

All authors had access to the data and a role in writing the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

We do not have any financial or non-financial potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

None.