From the 2021 HVPAA National Conference
Carter Shelton (MUSC Health), Andrew Demidowich (Johns Hopkins Community Physicians at Howard County Community Hospital), Mahsa Motevalli, Sam Sokolinksy, Periwinkle Mackay, Cynthia Tucker, Cora Abundo, Eileen Peters, Roliette Gooding, Margaret Hackett, Joyce Wedler, Lee Ann Alexander, Luvenia Barry, Mary Flynn, Patricia Rios, Constance Lulu Fulda, Michelle Young, Barbara Kahl, Eileen Pummer, Nestoras Mathioudakis
Background
Hospitalized patients who are receiving antihyperglycemic agents are at increased risk for hypoglycemia. Inpatient hypoglycemia may lead to increased risk for morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and readmission within 30 days of discharge, which in turn may lead to increased costs. Hospital-wide initiatives targeting hypoglycemia are known to be beneficial; however, their impact on patient care and economic measures in community nonteaching hospitals are unknown.
Methods
This retrospective quality improvement study examined the effects of hospital-wide hypoglycemia initiatives on the rates of insulin-induced hypoglycemia in a community hospital setting from January 1, 2016, until September 30, 2019. The potential cost of care savings has been calculated.
Results
Among 49 315 total patient days, 2682 days had an instance of hypoglycemia (5.4%). Mean ± SD hypoglycemic patient days/month was 59.6 ± 16.0. The frequency of hypoglycemia significantly decreased from 7.5% in January 2016 to 3.9% in September 2019 (P = .001). Patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated a significant decrease in the frequency of hypoglycemia (7.4%-3.8%; P < .0001), while among patients with type 1 diabetes the frequency trended downwards but did not reach statistical significance (18.5%-18.0%; P = 0.08). Based on the reduction of hypoglycemia rates, the hospital had an estimated cost of care savings of $98 635 during the study period.
Conclusions
In a community hospital setting, implementation of hospital-wide initiatives targeting hypoglycemia resulted in a significant and sustainable decrease in the rate of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.These high-leverage risk reduction strategies may be translated into considerable cost savings and could be implemented at other community hospitals.
Clinical Implications
Hypoglycemia reduction improved the safety of inpatients receiving insulin.
