---
Skipping Diabetes Meds Ups Risk of Hospitalization
Skipping Diabetes Meds Ups Risk of Hospitalization -- Posted by Gumbo on 10-24-04 12:39
Skipping Diabetes Meds Ups Risk of Hospitalization
By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Type 2 diabetic patients who take their oral
medications only part of the time have an increased risk of being
hospitalized within a one-year period, the results of a new study indicate.
Dr. David P. Nau, along with Dr. Denys T. Lau, of the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, used claims data from a managed care organization to examine
the link between non adherence to diabetes drugs and subsequent
hospitalization in 900 adult type 2 diabetics.
Over a 12-month period, 28.9 percent of patients were non adherent to the
antihyperglycemic regimen, they report in Diabetes Care.
According to the data, the risk of hospitalization in 2001 increased by more
than twofold in type 2 diabetics who were nonadherent to their oral diabetes
medications the year before.
"It isn't just the patients who completely stop their medications who are at
higher risk of hospitalization," Nau told Reuters Health, "since the
patients in our study who obtained less than 80 percent of their scheduled
doses had a hospitalization rate approximately twice that of patients who
were nearly perfect in their adherence."
This increased risk of hospitalization remained strong even after
considering the effect of other illnesses and the patients' adherence to
high blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications.
Nonadherence to high blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications,
seen in 18.8 percent and 26.9 percent of study subjects, respectively, was
not significantly associated with an increased risk of hospitalization.
"If strategies can be developed to identify and intervene with patients,
there may be substantial benefits to patients as well as the payers for
health care services," the researchers conclude in their report.
Nau suggests that for some diabetic patients, "referral to a certified
diabetes educator might be quite useful."
SOURCE: Diabetes Care September 2004.
Related
Discussion:
Make at least $5000 per week. (1 posts)
by Nick Colombe - Last post on: 09-16-05 01:56
This system is FREE and it's guaranteed. You can learn to do it. It's easy & simple. It doesn't get any better than that.
This offer will not last long. Normally this E-book would sell for $99.95, but not TODAY! Check this website NOW!
http://www.tradevestor.com/partner/go/878.php
-... (Read More)
Ayurvedic woes raise new questions about drug agency oversight (1 posts)
by danger@Ayurvedic-alert.com - Last post on: 10-04-04 15:11
Heavy metals in traditional Indian remedies.
Ernst E.
Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate
Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.
The growing popularity of traditional Indian remedies
necessit... (Read More)
Diet Coke with Splenda!!!! A WINNER!!!! (19 posts)
by newsgroupreader.com - Last post on: 05-10-05 13:42
If you normally can't stand diet pop, this new Diet Coke with Splenda is a
winner.
My fav diet drinks now are:
Hawaiin Punch Lite (Splenda)
Diet Coke with Splenda
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper (Equal)
... (Read More)
Specialist? (3 posts)
by Confused Man - Last post on: 09-13-05 20:22
Hello all,
this may seem a stupid question, and if so I sincerly apologize... but if
I'm looking for a doctor who specializes in Diabetes.... what would be the
official term for that specialty? I'm looking through my health insurances
"Doc Find" and searching by specialty but honestly have ... (Read More)
Top
Discussions From Our Archives
Nodal Osteoarthritis
Buisness
Other
Discussion Categories
Diabetes Symptoms
Health Care Policy
Health Care Providers HMO
Arthritis Symptoms
| 
