Clinical characteristics of people (n=2350) with or without IAH and severe hypoglycemia
| Characteristic | IAH (n=229) | No IAH (n=2121) | Severe hypoglycemia (n=742) | No severe hypoglycemia (n=1608) |
| Sex (male) | 142 (62.0) | 1248 (58.8) | 437 (58.9) | 953 (59.3) |
| Age (years) | 59.9±11.0 | 61.2±10.3 | 60.8±10.5 | 61.2±10.3 |
| Clinical care | ||||
| Primary care | 55 (24.0) | 614 (28.9) | 185 (25.1)* | 484 (30.2) |
| Secondary/tertiary care | 173 (75.5) | 1497 (70.6) | 551 (74.9)* | 1119 (69.8) |
| Diabetes duration (years) | 15.5±9.7 | 14.7±9.1 | 15.7±9.4* | 14.3±9.0 |
| HbA1c (%) (mmol/mol) | 7.8±1.4 (61.4±15.3) | 7.9±1.3 (62.6±14.7) | 8.0±1.4 (63.7±15.5) | 7.8±1.3 (62.0±14.4) |
| Insulin treatment | ||||
| Basal only | 25 (10.9)† | 453 (21.4) | 106 (14.3)* | 372 (23.1) |
| Pre-mixed | 40 (17.5) | 339 (16.0) | 122 (16.4) | 257 (16.0) |
| Basal-bolus | 163 (71.2)† | 1327 (62.6) | 513 (69.1)* | 977 (60.8) |
| Use of sulfonylureas | 12 (5.2)† | 240 (11.3) | 59 (8.0)* | 193 (12.0) |
| Use of metformin | 128 (55.9) | 1324 (62.4) | 423 (57.0)* | 1029 (64.0) |
| Pronounced polypharmacy | 73 (31.9) | 632 (29.8) | 263 (35.4)* | 442 (27.5) |
| Beta-blocker use | 86 (37.6) | 859 (40.5) | 298 (40.2) | 647 (40.2) |
| Psychoactive drug use | 52 (22.7) | 477 (22.5) | 209 (28.2)* | 320 (19.9) |
| Ethnicity (Caucasian) | 169 (75.4)† | 1714 (81.5) | 565 (77.2)* | 1318 (82.6) |
| Partner (yes) | 122 (63.2)† | 1301 (73.5) | 443 (72.0) | 980 (72.7) |
| High educational level (yes) | 54 (23.8) | 499 (23.6) | 159 (21.6) | 394 (24.6) |
| Current smoker (yes) | 47 (20.6) | 389 (18.4) | 145 (19.6) | 291 (18.2) |
| High alcohol consumption (≥14 glasses/week) | 15 (6.6) | 132 (6.3) | 49 (6.7) | 98 (6.2) |
| BMI≥30 (kg/m2) | 112 (49.3)† | 1198 (57.3) | 410 (55.8) | 900 (56.9) |
| History of cardiovascular disease (yes) | 81 (35.4) | 645 (30.4) | 261 (35.2)* | 465 (28.9) |
Data are shown as number (%) or mean±SD. History of cardiovascular disease was defined as having ≥1 of the following; acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular event, transient ischemic attack, peripheral artery disease. Pronounced polypharmacy was defined as using ≥10 drugs.
*p<0.05 versus no SH.
†p<0.05 versus no IAH
BMI, body mass index; IAH, impaired awareness of hypoglycemia; SH, severe hypoglycemia.