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Regular exercise is beneficial and recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, but increased glucose demand and changes in insulin sensitivity require treatment adjustments to prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia. Several different adjustment strategies based on insulin bolus reductions and additional carbohydrate intake have been proposed, but large inter- and intraindividual variability and studies using different exercise duration, intensity, and timing impede a direct comparison of their effects. In this study, we use a mathematical model of the glucoregulatory system and implement published guidelines and strategies in-silico to provide a direct comparison on a single ‘typical’ person on a standard day with three meals. We augment this day by a broad range of exercise scenarios combining different intensity and duration of the exercise session, and different timing with respect to adjacent meals. We compare the resulting blood glucose trajectories and use summary measures to evaluate the time-in-range and risk scores for hypo- and hyperglycemic events for each simulation scenario, and to determine factors that impede prevention of hypoglycemia events. Our simulations suggest that the considered strategies and guidelines successfully minimize the risk for acute hypoglycemia. At the same time, all adjustments substantially increase the risk of late-onset hypoglycemia compared to no adjustment in many cases. We also find that timing between exercise and meals and additional carbohydrate intake during exercise can lead to non-intuitive behavior due to superposition of meal- and exercise-related glucose dynamics. Increased insulin sensitivity appears as a major driver of non-acute hypoglycemic events. Overall, our results indicate that further treatment adjustment might be required both immediately following exercise and up to several hours later, but that the intricate interplay between different dynamics makes it difficult to provide generic recommendations. However, our simulation scenarios extend substantially beyond the original scope of each model component and proper model validation is warranted before applying our in-silico results in a clinical setting.

Regular exercise is beneficial and recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, but increased glucose demand and changes in insulin sensitivity require treatment adjustments to prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia. Several different adjustment strategies based on insulin bolus reductions and additional carbohydrate intake have been proposed, but large inter- and intraindividual variability and studies using different exercise duration, intensity, and timing impede a direct comparison of their effects. In this study, we use a mathematical model of the glucoregulatory system and implement published guidelines and strategies in-silico to provide a direct comparison on a single 'typical' person on a standard day with three meals. We augment this day by a broad range of exercise scenarios combining different intensity and duration of the exercise session, and different timing with respect to adjacent meals. We compare the resulting blood glucose trajectories and use summary measures to evaluate the time-in-range and risk scores for hypo- and hyperglycemic events for each simulation scenario, and to determine factors that impede prevention of hypoglycemia events. Our simulations suggest that the considered strategies and guidelines successfully minimize the risk for acute hypoglycemia. At the same time, all adjustments substantially increase the risk of late-onset hypoglycemia compared to no adjustment in many cases. We also find that timing between exercise and meals and additional carbohydrate intake during exercise can lead to non-intuitive behavior due to superposition of meal- and exercise-related glucose dynamics. Increased insulin sensitivity appears as a major driver of non-acute hypoglycemic events. Overall, our results indicate that further treatment adjustment might be required both immediately following exercise and up to several hours later, but that the intricate interplay between different dynamics makes it difficult to provide generic recommendations. However, our simulation scenarios extend substantially beyond the original scope of each model component and proper model validation is warranted before applying our in-silico results in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: Guidelines have been published for improving management of chronic heart failure (CHF). We examined the association between improved guideline adherence and risk for all-cause death in patients with stable systolic HF. Methods: Data on ambulatory patients (2006–2010) with CHF and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) from the Austrian Heart Failure Registry (HIR Austria) were analysed. One-year clinical data and long-term follow-up data until all-cause death or data censoring were available for 1014 patients (age 65 [55–73], male 75%, NYHA class I 14%, NYHA II 56%, NYHA III/IV 30%). A guideline adherence indicator (GAI [0–100%]) was calculated for each patient at baseline and after 12±3months that considered indications and contraindications for ACE-I/ARB, beta blockers, and MRA. Patients were considered ΔGAI-positive if GAI improved to or remained at high levels (≥80%). ΔGAI50+ positivity was ascribed to patients achieving a dose of ≥50% of suggested target dose. Results: Improvements in GAI and GAI50+ were associated with significant improvements in NYHA class and NT-proBNP (1728 [740–3636] to 970 [405–2348]) (p<0.001). Improvements in GAI50+, but not GAI, were independently predictive of lower mortality risk (HR 0.55 [95% CI 0.34–0.87; p=0.01]) after adjustment for a large variety of baseline parameters and hospitalisation for heart failure during follow-up. Conclusions: Improvement in guideline adherence with particular emphasis on dose escalation is associated with a decrease in long-term mortality in ambulatory HF-REF subjects surviving one year after registration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which assessed patient and physician behaviors in achieving better outcomes for diabetes, coronary heart disease and depression. The study conducted a controlled trial in 14 primary care clinics among 214 patients with diabetes or coronary heart disease. Result shows that high baseline adherence rates may have exerted a ceiling effect on potential improvements in medication adherence.

Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worse tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, especially among those with poor glycemic control. We examined whether a structured clinical algorithm could improve glycemic control in TB patients with DM.Methods: In an open label randomized trial, TB-DM patients were randomized to scheduled counselling, glucose monitoring, and adjustment of medication using a structured clinical algorithm (intervention arm) or routine DM management (control arm), with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at month 6 as the primary end point.Results: We randomized 150 pulmonary TB-DM patients (92% culture positive, 51.3% male, mean age 53 years). Baseline mean HbA1c was 11.0% in the intervention arm (n = 76) and 11.6% in the control arm (n = 74). At 6 months, HbA1c had decreased more in the intervention arm compared with the control arm (a difference of 1.82% HbA1c, 95% CI 0.82-2.83, p < 0.001). Five patients were hospitalized in the intervention arm and seven in the control arm. There was more hypoglycemia (35.0% vs 11.8%; p = 0.002) in the intervention arm. Two deaths occurred in the intervention arm, one due to cardiorespiratory failure and one because of suspected septic shock and multiorgan failure.Conclusion: Regular monitoring and algorithmic adjustment of DM treatment led to improved glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Hospitalized patients are a population at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The PRETEMED-2007 clinical practice guidelines help identify high-risk medical patients who are suited to thromboprophylaxis. These guidelines therefore provide a standard for prophylaxis in such patients. We evaluated the risk of VTE and the adjustment of thromboprophylaxis to the standards of the PRETEMED-2007 guidelines in patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments., Patients and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional multicenter study was performed in 2010 in 16 hospitals in Andalusia and included 20 consecutive patients per center. The study variables were age, sex, risk factors for VTE and hemorrhage, the risk-adjusted PRETEMED of VTE, adjustment of thromboembolic prophylaxis at admission and at discharge and hospital mortality., Results: The study included 293 patients (57.8% men) with a mean age of 69 (±15) years. The most common triggers for VTE were acute severe infection (27.3%) and neoplasia (16.4%). Some 43.4% of the patients presented a risk of hemorrhage. The risk of VTE at admission and discharge was high in 47.8% and 31% and moderate in 8.2% and 10.6%, respectively. A total of 91.7% and 17.3% of the patients underwent prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin on admission and at discharge, respectively. The prescription was appropriate for 59.9% of the patients at admission (overutilization 38.4%, underutilization 1.7%) and for 74.7% at discharge (overutilization 5.4%, underutilization 19.9%). The adjustment was greater in patients older than 60 years and with greater hemorrhagic risk., Conclusions: For 60% of the patients admitted to the departments of internal medicine in Andalusia, the thromboprophylaxis was appropriate. The inadequacy of thromboprophylaxis (40%) is mostly due to overutilization. These results suggest significant space for improvement., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.)