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Published in: Current Diabetes Reports 8/2019

01-08-2019 | Hypoglycemia | Diabetes Epidemiology (E Selvin and K Foti, Section Editors)

Approaches to Risk Assessment Among Older Patients With Diabetes

Authors: Scott J. Pilla, Nancy L. Schoenborn, Nisa M. Maruthur, Elbert S. Huang

Published in: Current Diabetes Reports | Issue 8/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

A patient’s prognosis and risk of adverse drug effects are important considerations for individualizing care of older patients with diabetes. This review summarizes the evidence for risk assessment and proposes approaches for clinicians in the context of current clinical guidelines.

Recent Findings

Diabetes guidelines vary in their recommendations for how life expectancy should be estimated and used to inform the selection of glycemic targets. Readily available prognostic tools may improve estimation of life expectancy but require validation among patients with diabetes. Treatment decisions based on prognosis are difficult for clinicians to communicate and for patients to understand. Determining hypoglycemia risk involves assessing major risk factors; models to synthesize these factors have been developed.

Summary

Applying risk assessment to individualize diabetes care is complex and currently relies heavily on clinician judgment. More research is need to validate structured approaches to risk assessment and determine how to incorporate them into patient-centered diabetes care.
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Metadata
Title
Approaches to Risk Assessment Among Older Patients With Diabetes
Authors
Scott J. Pilla
Nancy L. Schoenborn
Nisa M. Maruthur
Elbert S. Huang
Publication date
01-08-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
Hypoglycemia
Published in
Current Diabetes Reports / Issue 8/2019
Print ISSN: 1534-4827
Electronic ISSN: 1539-0829
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1172-z

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