Studies from University of Utah Yield New Data on Depression (Impact of a Tubeless, Disposable Insulin Pump On Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Admissions Among a Medicare Population): Mental Health Diseases and Conditions – Depression

2024 NOV 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health Policy and Law Daily -- A new study on Mental Health Diseases and Conditions - Depression is now available. According to news reporting out of Salt Lake City, Utah, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “A tubeless, disposable insulin pump (Omnipod DASH Insulin Management System, Insulet Corporation) has demonstrated improved glycemic outcomes for people with diabetes who require insulin. The impact of the system on downstream health care events has not been studied.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Utah, “To assess health care resource utilization for a Medicare population before and after starting tubeless, disposable insulin pump therapy. This retrospective, observational analysis used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 100% Research Identifiable Files. Study outcomes included change in event rates for diabetes-related emergency department (DRED) visits, all-cause emergency department (ACED) visits, diabetes-related inpatient (DRIP) admissions, and all-cause inpatient (ACIP) admissions among Medicare beneficiaries who started the tubeless, disposable insulin pump in 2020 (postpump observation period) as compared with the same duration and calendar period in 2019 (prepump observation period) with no pump use. Subgroup analyses were performed based on Medicare entitlement reason, diabetes type, and diagnosis status for depressive disorder. A total of 811 users met the criteria for analysis: 46.2% had type 2 diabetes, a majority (59.2%) were aged 65 years or older, and 37.0% had a diagnosis for depressive disorder. Significant reductions were observed for DRED of -46.9% (95% CI = -63% to -23%); ACED of -29.0% (95% CI = -37% to -20%); ACIP of -19.9% (95% CI = -32% to -6%). DRIP rates declined notably (-36.6%; 95% CI = -61% to 4%). Event rates observed across subgroups demonstrated consistent downward trends; however, not all were statistically significant. These findings demonstrate that use of the tubeless, disposable insulin pump was associated with reductions in DRED, ACED, and ACIP. Our results provide real-world evidence to support the use of the tubeless, disposable insulin pump among Medicare beneficiaries who require insulin, regardless of diabetes type or Medicare entitlement reason.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Additional studies are recommended to further evaluate the effect of insulin pumps on health care utilization among the Medicare population and other insurance populations.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Impact of a Tubeless, Disposable Insulin Pump On Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Admissions Among a Medicare Population. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2024;30(10):1128-1135. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy can be contacted at: Acad Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 N Pitt St, 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-3134, USA.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Joseph E. Biskupiak, University of Utah, Dept. of Pharmacotherapy, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States. Additional authors for this research include Daniel L. Carlow and Medha N. Munshi.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)