The effect of frailty on post-discharge management and outcomes of acute glycaemic crises: Analysis of admissions for hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To describe changes in glucose-lowering drug (GLD) dispensing by frailty status for people with diabetes following admission for hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia.

Methods: This study included all people with probable type 2 diabetes in the state of Victoria, Australia, admitted to hospital for hypoglycaemia (n = 2,506 admissions) or hyperglycaemia (n = 1,693) between 1 July 2013 and 29 June 2017. Frailty was defined via the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). We examined differences in dispensing of GLDs in the year before and after admission using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status.

Results: Dispensing of GLDs decreased following hypoglycaemia admission. Decreased dispensing was strongly associated with frailty status, with a change in mean annual GLD dispensing count of -4.11 (-5.05, -3.17) for an HFRS of 15 vs. -0.99 (-1.47, -0.50) for an HFRS of 0. Changes were greatest for metformin and sulfonylureas. Following hyperglycaemia admission, the mean number of annual GLD dispensings increased, with a smaller increase with increasing frailty: 2.44 (1.32, 3.56) for an HFRS of 0 vs. 1.16 (0.18, 2.14) for an HFRS of 15.

Conclusions: Frailty was associated with more conservative diabetes medication management following hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia admissions.