Trends and Disparities in Rates of Hypoglycemia Among Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Inpatient hypoglycemia in the VA health system has been declining, although there are race, age, and sex differences that remain unexplained. Recognition of hypoglycemia, defined as a discharge diagnosis, is increasing.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D hospitalized in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, 2016–2022
- Participants
- 512,261 patients
- Exposure
- Rates of inpatient hypoglycemia by year, age, sex, and race and ethnicity
- Outcome
- Rate of inpatient hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL)
Methodological detailsVeterans Affairs health care system data, adjusted for diagnoses, laboratory values, vital signs and insulin use
- Veterans Affairs health care system data
- Adjusted for diagnoses, laboratory values, vital signs and insulin use
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Inpatient hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) · 2016–2022
Patients with an episode of hypoglycemia
6.8%
34,918
Rate decreased from 2016 to 2022
17%
7.4% to 6.3%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted risk of hypoglycemia by race and ethnicity and sexBlackvs Non-Hispanic White | 1.42 (1.36–1.49) | |
| Adjusted risk of hypoglycemia by race and ethnicity and sexHispanicvs Non-Hispanic White | 1.26 (1.17–1.35) | |
| Adjusted risk of hypoglycemia by race and ethnicity and sexWomenvs MenBorderline less hypoglycemia in women | 0.95 (0.89–1.00) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Adjusted risk of hypoglycemia by race and ethnicity and sex
- Youngest and oldest patients, and those hospitalized in earlier years (vs 2022), had significantly higher adjusted rates of hypoglycemia
Discharge diagnosis of hypoglycemia among those with hypoglycemia · 2016–2022
- Rate of discharge diagnosis increased
Original publication
Trends and Disparities in Rates of Hypoglycemia Among Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. Published 22 May 2025. doi:10.
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