A survey on the anti-diabetic medication regimen of diabetic patients hospitalized to non-endocrinological wards in a comprehensive hospital

Objective To summarize the current status and change of anti-diabetic medication regimen of diabetic patients hospitalized to different departments in Chinese PLA General Hospital. Methods The clinical data of patients with diabetes admitted to Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2001 to May 2014 were collected(the patients hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology were excluded). Total of 10 041 patients were selected by stratified random sampling. The type of anti-diabetic medication regimen in different departments and the variation on antihyperglycemic treatment strategies with time were retrospectively analyzed. Data were compared with chi-square among the groups. Results A total of 10 041 patients with diabetes mellitus were selected, of whom 5 502 (54.8%) were male and 4 539 (45.2%) were female. The overall mean age was (62±14) years. Of all the patients, 49.8% were treated with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) alone, 37.2% used insulin only and 13.0% of the patients received OADs plus insulin. About 54.7% of patients in internal medicine department were treated with OADs, among which, monotherapy accounted for 36.5%, two OADs combination took up 16.5%, three or more OADs combination took up 1.7%. While those in surgical department preferred insulin for treatment when compared their counterparts in internal medicine departments [56.2%(2 526/4 497) vs 45.3%(2 510/5 544), χ2=117.928, P<0.001]. During the past 15 years, the number of patients treated with OADs alone reduced [71.1% (589/828) vs 46.0% (2 315/5 036), χ2=271.087, P<0.01], while the number of those using insulin alone or OADs plus insulin increased [22.1%(183/828) vs 38.9%(1 963/5 036), 6.8%(56/828) vs 15.1%(758/5 036), χ2=120.369, 96.989, both P<0.01]. Conclusions The anti-diabetic medication regimen is different in different departments. Insulin therapy was more common in surgical department than in internal medicine department. In the past 15 years, the percentage of patients using insulin alone or OADs plus insulin increases with time. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Hypoglycemic agents; Insulin; Anti-diabetic medication regimen