Factors associated with clinically significant hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes using sensor-augmented pump therapy with predictive low-glucose management: A multicentric study on iberoamerica

Background and aimsDespite using sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAPT) with predictive low-glucose management (PLGM), hypoglycemia is still an issue in patients with type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Our aim was to determine factors associated with clinically significant hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dl) in persons with T1D treated with PLGM-SAPT.Methodology: This is a multicentric prospective real-life study performed in Colombia, Chile and Spain. Patients with T1D treated with PLGM-SAPT, using sensor ≥70% of time, were included. Data regarding pump and sensor use patterns and carbohydrate intake from 28 consecutive days were collected. A bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analysis was carried out, to evaluate the association between the number of events of <54 mg/dl with the clinical variables and patterns of sensor and pump use.Results188 subjects were included (41 ± 13.8 years-old, 23 ± 12 years disease duration, A1c 7.2% ± 0.9). The median of events <54 mg/dl was four events/patient/month (IQR 1–10), 77% of these events occurred during day time. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of events of hypoglycemia were higher in patients with previous severe hypoglycemia (IRR1.38; 95% CI 1.19–1.61; p < 0.001), high glycemic variability defined as Coefficient of Variation (CV%) > 36% (IRR 2.09; 95%CI 1.79–2.45; p < 0.001) and hypoglycemia unawareness. A protector effect was identified for adequate sensor calibration (IRR 0.77; 95%CI 0.66–0.90; p:0.001), and the use of bolus wizard >60% (IRR 0.74; 95%CI 0.58–0.95; p:0.017).ConclusionIn spite of using advanced SAPT, clinically significant hypoglycemia is still a non-negligible risk. Only the identification and intervention of modifiable factors could help to prevent and reduce hypoglycemia in clinical practice.     

Prenatal Substance Use and Perceptions of Parent and Partner Use Using the 4P’s Plus Screener

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Background Prenatal substance use screening is recommended. The 4 P’s Plus screener includes questions on perceived problematic substance use in parents...     

Anthropometric and reproductive factors and risk of esophageal and gastric cancer by subtype and subsite: Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort

Obesity has been associated with upper gastrointestinal cancers; however, there are limited prospective data on associations by subtype/subsite. Obesity can impact hormonal factors, which have been hypothesized to play a role in these cancers. We investigated anthropometric and reproductive factors in relation to esophageal and gastric cancer by subtype and subsite for 476,160 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox models. During a mean follow-up of 14 years, 220 esophageal adenocarcinomas (EA), 195 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, 243 gastric cardia (GC) and 373 gastric noncardia (GNC) cancers were diagnosed. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with EA in men (BMI ≥30 vs. 18.5–25 kg/m²: HR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.25–3.03) and women (HR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.15–6.19); however, adjustment for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) attenuated these associations. After mutual adjustment for BMI and HC, respectively, WHR and waist circumference (WC) were associated with EA in men (HR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.99–6.06 for WHR >0.96 vs. <0.91; HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.52–4.72 for WC >98 vs. <90 cm) and women (HR = 4.40, 95% CI: 1.35–14.33 for WHR >0.82 vs. <0.76; HR = 5.67, 95% CI: 1.76–18.26 for WC >84 vs. <74 cm). WHR was also positively associated with GC in women, and WC was positively associated with GC in men. Inverse associations were observed between parity and EA (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14–0.99; >2 vs. 0) and age at first pregnancy and GNC (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.91; >26 vs. <22 years); whereas bilateral ovariectomy was positively associated with GNC (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.04–3.36). These findings support a role for hormonal pathways in upper gastrointestinal cancers.     

Action research methodology in clinical pharmacy: how to involve and change

Introduction The focus in clinical pharmacy practice is and has for the last 30–35 years been on changing the role of pharmacy staff into service orientation and patient counselling. One way of doing this is by involving staff in change process and as a researcher to take part in the change process by establishing partnerships with staff. On the background of the authors’ widespread action research (AR)-based experiences, recommendations and comments for how to conduct an AR-study is described, and one of their AR-based studies illustrate the methodology and the research methods used. Methodology AR is defined as an approach to research which is based on a problem-solving relationship between researchers and clients, which aims at both solving a problem and at collaboratively generating new knowledge. Research questions relevant in AR-studies are: what was the working process in this change oriented study? What learning and/or changes took place? What challenges/pitfalls had to be overcome? What were the influence/consequences for the involved parts? When to use If you want to implement new services and want to involve staff and others in the process, an AR methodology is very suitable. The basic advantages of doing AR-based studies are grounded in their participatory and democratic basis and their starting point in problems experienced in practice. Limitations Some of the limitations in AR-studies are that neither of the participants in a project steering group are the only ones to decide. Furthermore, the collective process makes the decision-making procedures relatively complex.