Risk factors associated with hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus： a community based case-control study

Objective To determine the risk factors associated with hypoglycemia in community patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2DM）.

Methods A case-control study was performed among 914 patients with T2DM and no medical history of hypoglycemia were selected in the Diabetes Unit of Tongji University School of Medicine Affiliated Anting Community Health Center in 2018. A total of 196 patients with T2DM who had ≥1 hypoglycemia event in the past 12 months were presented as the case group， and 718 patients who did not have any hypoglycemia event during the same period were included as the control group. Medical history， medication， life style， and related factors were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with hypoglycemia.

Results History of coronary heart disease ［adjusted odds ratio（aOR）=2.077， 95% CI： 1.293-3.337］， renal disease （aOR=4.775， 95% CI： 1.537-14.830）， and previous insulin use （aOR =1.765， 95%CI： 1.147-2.716） significantly increased the risk of hypoglycemia， while angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors（ACEI）（aOR =0.127， 95%CI： 0.044-0.366） and β-receptor blockers （aOR =0.271， 95%CI： 0.119-0.616） decreased the risk of hypoglycemia among diabetic patients.

Conclusion Incidence of hypoglycemia in community patients with diabetes is high. History of coronary heart disease and kidney disease， and previous insulin use may increase the risk of hypoglycemia， which warrants further attention by community general practitioners.