Optimizing lipid control in Taiwanese diabetic patients: A collaborative consensus by the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators.

We present an in-depth analysis of dyslipidemia management strategies for patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. It critically examines the disparity between established guideline recommendations and actual clinical practices, particularly in the context of evolving policies affecting statin prescriptions. The focus is on synthesizing the most recent findings concerning lipid management in patients with diabetes mellitus, with a special emphasis on establishing consensus regarding low-density lipoprotein cholesterol treatment targets.

Osteoporosis care after hip fracture: Observation from national health insurance database and fracture liaison services.

Background: The objective of this research was to report the trend of osteoporosis care after hip fractures from usual care (UC) and to compare the quality of care with those who received fracture liaison services (FLSs).

Methods: Data on osteoporosis care for patients with hip fracture were acquired from the National Health Insurance claims (UC group), and surveys from FLS programs (FLS group). A total of 183,300 patients receiving UC and 3010 patients receiving FLS were studied.

Asia-pacific consensus on osteoporotic fracture prevention in postmenopausal women with low bone mass or osteoporosis but no fragility fractures.

Postmenopausal women are at significant risk for osteoporotic fractures due to their rapid bone loss. Half of all postmenopausal women will get an osteoporosis-related fracture over their lifetime, with 25% developing a spine deformity and 15% developing a hip fracture. By 2050, more than half of all osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia, with postmenopausal women being the most susceptible.

TASL, TADE, and DAROC consensus for the screening and management of hepatitis C in patients with diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are prevalent diseases globally and emerging evidence demonstrates the bidirectional association between the two diseases. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV have a high treatment success rate and can significantly reduce the risks of short and long-term complications of HCV infection. However, despite the evidence of the association between diabetes and HCV and the benefits of anti-HCV treatment, previously published guidelines did not focus on the universal HCV screening for patients with diabetes and their subsequent management once confirmed as having HCV viremia.

An Effective Strategy to Activate Physicians to Promote High Cardiovascular Risk Patients to Quit Smoking.

Background: Adult patients cared for by cardiologists, neurologists, and diabetologists are highly vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are worsened by smoking. In the past, physicians of these three specialties at major hospitals in Taiwan always referred patients to family medicine and chest medicine departments for smoking cessation programs. However, the participation rate in these programs was unsatisfactory.

A longitudinal analysis of serum adiponectin levels and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in Taiwan.

Since bone and fat mass are derived from mesenchyme in early development, adipokines secreted by adipose tissue may have an effect on bone metabolism. The relationship between adiponectin and bone mineral density (BMD) has been inconsistent in previous reports, with results being dependent on age, gender, menopausal status and bone sites. We investigated the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and the BMD of proximal femur and vertebrae bones in a 96-week longitudinal study of post-menopausal women with repeated measures of both.

Association between smoking and glycemic control in men with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: Longitudinal data on the association between smoking and glycemic control in men with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the extent of the association between smoking and glycemic control in this population.

Methods: The retrospective cohort study identified 3044 eligible men with T2DM in a medical centre in Taiwan between 2002 and 2017.

The dawn phenomenon in type 2 diabetes: its association with glucose excursions and changes after oral glucose-lowering drugs.

Background: We investigated the association between glucose excursions and the dawn phenomenon, and the effects of oral-glucose lowering drugs on the dawn phenomenon in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: We conducted a analysis using data from a previous randomized trial. Patients with T2D on metformin monotherapy were randomized to receive add-on acarbose or glibenclamide for 16 weeks.

Glycemic Control and Prevention of Diabetic Complications in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Expert Opinion.

Introduction: Trends on glycemic control and diabetes complications are known for high-income countries, but comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are lacking.

Methods: This is an expert opinion based on two retrospective studies. Here we examine the recent subset analysis of relevant data from the IDMPS Wave 7 (International Diabetes Management-Practices Study, 2015-2016) and the GOAL study conducted in multiple LMICs.

Predictors of treatment failure during the first year in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients: a retrospective, observational study.

Background: Diabetes patients who fail to achieve early glycemic control may increase the future risk of complications and mortality. The aim of the study was to identify factors that predict treatment failure (TF) during the first year in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted at a medical center in Taiwan enrolled 4,282 eligible patients with newly diagnosed T2DM between 2002 and 2017.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in association with glycemic control in newly diagnosed non-insulin-treated diabetes patients: a retrospective cohort study.

The benefits of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) on glycemic control among type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients not receiving insulin remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the association between SMBG and glycemic control in these patients. This retrospective longitudinal study enrolled 4987 eligible patients from a medical center in Taiwan.

Use and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter retrospective study in Taiwan.

Aims/introduction: To investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who initiated dapagliflozin in real-world practice in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, adult patients with T2DM who initiated dapagliflozin after May 1 2016 either as add-on or switch therapy were included. Changes in clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at 3 and 6 months.

Pharmacologic intervention for prevention of fractures in osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal women: Systemic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Emerging evidence has indicated a role for pharmacologic agents in the primary prevention of osteoporotic fracture, but have not yet been systematically reviewed for meta-analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacologic interventions in reducing fracture risk and increasing bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis but without prevalent fragility fracture.

Method: The Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from inception to September 30, 2019.

Early combination versus initial metformin monotherapy in the management of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: An East Asian perspective.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the East Asian population is characterized by phenotypes such as low body mass index, an index of β-cell dysfunction, and higher percentage of body fat, an index of insulin resistance. These phenotypes/pathologies may predispose people to early onset of diabetes with increased risk of stroke and renal disease. Less than 50% of patients with T2D in East Asia achieve glycaemic targets recommended by national or regional guidelines, which may be attributable to knowledge and/or implementation gaps.

A convenient diagnostic tool for discriminating adult-onset glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-positive autoimmune diabetes from type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study.

Background: The glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) test, commonly used to diagnose autoimmune diabetes, is not cost-effective in areas of low prevalence. The aim of this study was to develop a convenient tool to discriminate adult-onset GADA-positive autoimmune diabetes from type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted at Changhua Christian Hospital in Taiwan, collected electronic medical record data from January 2009 to December 2018.

Cost-effectiveness of statin therapy for secondary prevention among patients with coronary artery disease and baseline LDL-C 70-100 mg/dL in Taiwan.

Background: The recommended target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients has been lowered from 100 to 70 mg/dL in several clinical guidelines for secondary prevention. We aimed to assess whether initiating statin treatment in CAD patients with baseline LDL-C 70-100 mg/dL in Taiwan could be cost-effective.

Methods: A Markov model was developed to simulate a hypothetical cohort of CAD patients with a baseline LDL-C level of 90 mg/dL.

Effect of diabetes mellitus on risk of latent TB infection in a high TB incidence area: a community-based study in Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate the association between diabetes and latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) in high TB incidence areas.

Design: Community-based comparison study.

Setting: Outpatient diabetes clinics at 4 hospitals and 13 health centres in urban and rural townships.

Comparing the Effect of Dipeptidyl-Peptidase 4 Inhibitors and Sulfonylureas on Albuminuria in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Open-Label Study.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) leads to substantial morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence suggests that antidiabetic drug dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may be able to attenuate albuminuria, whereas the influence of sulfonylureas on albuminuria remains unclear. This prospective open-label study investigated the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors and sulfonylureas on urinary albumin excretion, which is a marker of renal microvascular abnormality.

Accountability and utilization of diabetes care from 2005 to 2014 in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence has been rapidly increasing in Taiwan and globally. Team care for DM has been provided through diabetes shared-care networks in Taiwan more than 20 years.

Methods: The study analyzed the National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data from 2005 to 2014 to better understand diabetes care accountability and utilization in Taiwan.

2019 Diabetes Atlas: Achievements and challenges in diabetes care in Taiwan.

The 2019 Diabetes Atlas delineated both accomplishments and challenges in diabetes care in Taiwan between 2005 and 2014. The series reported that Taiwan had significantly improved aspects of care quality for patients with diabetes. For example, the mortality rate decreased, the difference between the life expectancies of patients with diabetes and those of the general population decreased, and the rates of hospitalization because of heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, and unsatisfactory glycemic control decreased.

Trends of mortality in diabetic patients in Taiwan: A nationwide survey in 2005-2014.

Background/purpose: Diabetes mellitus has become a major cause of death worldwide. Many technologies have become available for managing diabetes and its complications. This study investigated the mortality trends in people with diabetes in Taiwan between 2005 and 2014.

Trends in antidiabetic medical treatment from 2005 to 2014 in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Several new antidiabetic drugs have been introduced in Taiwan. However, the trends in antidiabetic treatment remain unexamined.

Methods: We studied data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database to identify outpatient prescriptions for antidiabetic drugs from 2005 to 2014.

Plasma Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Correlates With Heart Function in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Heart failure is a frequent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Plasma cholesterol, particularly the proatherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, impairs heart function by promoting atheroma formation and ventricular dysfunction. Considering the established effect of cholesterol on the cardiovascular system, we hypothesized that plasma LDL cholesterol may influence left ventricular function in individuals with T2DM.

Consensus Statement on the Use of Bone Turnover Markers for Short-Term Monitoring of Osteoporosis Treatment in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Osteoporosis is a major health issue. By 2050, a greater than 2-fold increase in patients number with hip fractures will occur in Asia representing 50% of all hip fractures worldwide. For the Asia-Pacific (AP) region, more efforts on controlling osteoporosis and the subsequent fractures are crucial.