Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors for severe hypoglycemia and the association between severe hypoglycemia and serious cardiovascular adverse events and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This post hoc analysis of data from the VADT included 1,791 military veterans (age 60.5 6 9.0 years) with suboptimally controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA 1c 9.4 6 2.0%) of 11.5 6 7.5 years disease duration with or without known cardiovascular disease and additional cardiovascular risk factors. Participants were randomized to intensive (HbA 1c <7.0%) versus standard (HbA 1c <8.5%) glucose control. RESULTS The rate of severe hypoglycemia in the intensive treatment group was 10.3 per 100 patient-years compared with 3.7 per 100 patient-years in the standard treatment group (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, insulin use at baseline (P = 0.02), proteinuria (P = 0.009), and autonomic neuropathy (P = 0.01) were independent risk factors for severe hypoglycemia, and higher BMI was protective (P = 0.017). Severe hypoglycemia within the past 3 months was associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events (P = 0.032), cardiovascular mortality (P = 0.012), and total mortality (P = 0.024). However, there was a relatively greater increased risk for total mortality in the standard group compared with the intensive group (P = 0.019). The association between severe hypoglycemia and cardiovascular events increased significantly as overall cardiovascular risk increased (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS Severe hypoglycemic episodes within the previous 3 months were associated with increased risk for major cardiovascular events and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality regardless of glycemic treatment group assignment. Standard therapy further increased the risk for all-cause mortality after severe hypoglycemia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-163 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Diabetes Care |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Advanced and Specialized Nursing