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Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia

Compare Versions of: "Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia"

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Measure Information 2023 Reporting Period 2024 Reporting Period
Title Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia
CMS eCQM ID CMS871v2 CMS871v3
Short Name

HH-02

HH-Hyper

CBE ID 3533e 3533e
Description

This measure assesses the number of inpatient hospital days with a hyperglycemic event (harm) per the total qualifying inpatient hospital days for that encounter for patients 18 years of age or older at admission

This measure assesses the number of inpatient hospital days for patients age 18 and older with a hyperglycemic event (harm) per the total qualifying inpatient hospital days for that encounter

Definition *See CMS871v2.html

Inpatient hospitalizations: Includes time in the emergency department and observation when the transition between these encounters (if they exist) and the inpatient encounter are within an hour or less of each other.

This measure defines a severe hyperglycemic day (harm) as either (1) a day with a test (lab or point-of-care (POC)) for glucose with a result of >300 mg/dL, or (2) a day in which a glucose test with a result was not found and it was preceded by two consecutive days where at least one lab or point-of-care (POC) test during each of the two days for glucose had a result >=200 mg/dL.

Hospital days are not defined as midnight-to-midnight but are full 24-hour periods that start at the time of admission to the hospital (including emergency department and observation), excluding the last period before discharge from hospital inpatient if it is less than 24 hours.

Initial Population

Inpatient hospitalizations where the patient is 18 years or older at the start of the admission with a discharge during the measurement period, as well as either:

1) a diagnosis of diabetes that starts before or during the encounter; or

2) administration of at least one dose of insulin or any hypoglycemic medication during the encounter; or

3) presence of at least one blood glucose value >=200 mg/dL at any time during the encounter

The measure includes inpatient hospitalizations that began in the emergency department or in observation

Inpatient hospitalizations for patients age 18 and older that end during the measurement period, as well as either:

- A diagnosis of diabetes that starts before or during the encounter; or

- Administration of at least one dose of insulin or any hypoglycemic medication during the encounter; or

- Presence of at least one glucose value >=200 mg/dL at any time during the encounter

Numerator

Inpatient hospitalizations with a hyperglycemic event within the first 10 days of the encounter minus the first 24 hours, and minus the last period before discharge if less than 24 hours

A hyperglycemic event is defined as:

1) A day with at least one blood glucose value >300 mg/dL;

OR

2) A day where a blood glucose test was not done, and it was preceded by two consecutive days where at

least one glucose value during each of the two days was >=200 mg/dL

Inpatient hospitalizations with a hyperglycemic event within the first 10 days of the encounter minus the first 24 hours, and minus the last period before discharge from the hospital if less than 24 hours

A hyperglycemic event is defined as:

- A day with at least one glucose value >300 mg/dL,

OR

- A day where a glucose test and result was not found, and it was immediately preceded by two contiguous, consecutive days where at least one glucose value during each of the two days was >=200 mg/dL

Numerator Exclusions

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Denominator

Equals Initial Population

Equals Initial Population

Denominator Exclusions

Inpatient hospitalizations for patients with an initial blood glucose result of >=1000 mg/dL anytime between 1 hour prior to the start of the encounter to 6 hours after the start of the encounter

Inpatient hospitalizations for patients with an initial glucose result of >=1000 mg/dL anytime between 1 hour prior to the start of the encounter to 6 hours after the start of the encounter

Measure Steward Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Measure Scoring Ratio measure Ratio measure
Measure Type Outcome measure Outcome measure
Improvement Notation

A lower measure score indicates higher quality

A lower measure score indicates higher quality

Guidance

The measure is using mg/dL as the unit of measurement for glucose results.

To determine the measure outcome, the total number of hyperglycemic days during the inpatient hospitalization is divided by the total number of eligible hospital days of the inpatient hospitalization.

When evaluating for days with a blood glucose level >300 mg/dL, the first 24-hour period after admission to the hospital (including the emergency department or observation) is not evaluated to account for potentially poor glucose control outside of the hospital setting or that preceded the start of hospital care.

This measure evaluates the first 10 days of an eligible inpatient hospitalization in determining eligible days for the denominator and numerator (i.e., the length of stay is truncated to <=10 days when the length exceeds 10 days). Patients admitted for longer length of stays are more likely to have more complex medical conditions.

The numerator returns the first eligible encounter that meets the qualifying criteria: an inpatient hospitalization with a hyperglycemic event. Only one numerator is counted per encounter. Note that the Numerator returns the encounters, not days, that meet the criteria.

Blood glucose levels are determined by laboratory or point-of-care (POC) tests, including capillary/glucometer blood glucose tests.

This eCQM is an episode-based measure. An episode is defined as each inpatient hospitalization or encounter that ends during the measurement period.

This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.6. Please refer to the QDM page for more information on the QDM.

The measure is using mg/dL as the unit of measurement for glucose results.

To determine the measure outcome, the total number of hyperglycemic days during the inpatient hospitalization is divided by the total number of eligible hospital days of the inpatient hospitalization.

When evaluating for days with a glucose level >300 mg/dL, the first 24-hour period after admission to the hospital (including the emergency department or observation) is not evaluated to account for potentially poor glucose control outside of the hospital setting or that preceded the start of hospital care.

This measure evaluates the first 10 days of an eligible inpatient hospitalization in determining eligible days for the denominator and numerator (i.e., the length of stay is truncated to <=10 days when the length exceeds 10 days). Patients admitted for longer length of stays are more likely to have more complex medical conditions.

The “Days in Hospitalization” logic within Measure Observation 1 (associated with the denominator), in conjunction with other logic, returns the day number (e.g., day 1 to day 10) for each day within the hospitalization period to determine the eligible hospital days (e.g., from day 2 to day 10).

The “Days in Hospitalization” logic within Measure Observation 2 (associated with the numerator), in conjunction with other logic, returns the day number (e.g., day 1 to day 10) for each day within the hospitalization period to determine the eligible hyperglycemic event days (e.g., from day 2 to day 10).

Since the measure does not count any hyperglycemic events that occur in the first 24 hours, day 1 is not considered an eligible hospital day for the Measure Observations. Eligible days range from day 2 up to day 10.

Although the measure does not count any hyperglycemic events that occur in the first 24 hours as a hyperglycemic event day in Measure Observation 2, the first 24 hours of the encounter is considered day 1. This is because if there was a day during the encounter where a glucose result is not found, the measure evaluates the two days preceding to see if each had a glucose value >=200 mg/dL. The measure allows the first 24 hours of the encounter, i.e., day 1, to be one of the preceding days.

Multiple hyperglycemic events can occur during a ‘day’, but this is still considered one hyperglycemic event day.

The numerator returns the first eligible encounter that meets the qualifying criteria: an inpatient hospitalization with a hyperglycemic event. Only one numerator is counted per encounter. Note that the Numerator returns the encounters, not days, that meet the criteria.

The specimen source for the glucose test is blood, serum, plasma, or interstitial fluid, and can be obtained by a laboratory test, a Point of Care (POC) test, or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Glucose test results from urine specimens are not considered.

This eCQM is an episode-based measure. An episode is defined as each inpatient hospitalization or encounter that ends during the measurement period.

This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.6. Please refer to the QDM page for more information on the QDM.

Rationale *See CMS871v2.html

Hyperglycemia, i.e., elevated glucose level, is common among hospitalized patients, especially those with preexisting diabetes (Umpierrez et al., 2012) and account for over 30% of noncritically ill hospitalized patients (Korytkowski, 2022). Hyperglycemia can also affect individuals with no prior history of diabetes and may be induced by medications such as steroids, or parenteral (intravenous) or enteral (tube) feeding.

Severe hyperglycemia, i.e., extremely elevated glucose level, is significantly associated with a range of harms, including increased in-hospital mortality, infection rates, and hospital length of stay (Pasquel, et al., 2021; Umpierrez et al., 2012, 2015). Lower rates of inpatient severe hyperglycemia may not only improve care for patients, but also reduce costs for healthcare payers (Krinsley et al., 2016). The rate of hyperglycemia varies across hospitals, suggesting opportunities for improvement in inpatient glycemic management (Bersoux et al., 2013). The rate of inpatient hyperglycemia can be considered a marker for quality of hospital care, since inpatient hyperglycemia is largely avoidable with proper glycemic management. The use of evidence-based standardized protocols and insulin management protocols have been shown to improve glycemic control and safety (Leroy et al., 2020; Maynard et al., 2015).

From the Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline on the Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients in Non-critical Care Setting, 2022:

Recommendation 1.1

In adults with insulin-treated diabetes hospitalized for noncritical illness who are at high risk of hypoglycemia, we suggest the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with confirmatory bedside point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) monitoring for adjustments in insulin dosing rather than point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) testing alone in hospital settings where resources and training are available.

Stratification

None

None

Risk Adjustment *See CMS871v2.html

None

Clinical Recommendation Statement *See CMS871v2.html

It should be noted that this measure does not aim to measure overall glucose control in hospitalized patients; rather, our goal is to assess the occurrence and extent of severe hyperglycemia. This measure is also intended to be used in combination with its companion measure of hypoglycemia (Hospital Harm – Hypoglycemia) to reduce unintended consequences of measurement.

Multiple guidelines address recommended levels of glycemic control, though these do not define severe hyperglycemia:

From Section 16, Diabetes Care in the Hospital, in the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes by the American Diabetes Association, (American Diabetes Association, 2022):

16.4 Insulin therapy should be initiated for treatment of persistent hyperglycemia starting at a threshold ≥180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) (checked on two occasions). Once insulin therapy is started, a target glucose range of 140–180 mg/dL (7.8–10.0 mmol/L) is recommended for the majority of critically ill and noncritically ill patients. A

16.5 More stringent goals, such as 110–140 mg/dL (6.1–7.8 mmol/L), may be appropriate for selected patients if they can be achieved without significant hypoglycemia.

From the Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline on the Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients in Non-critical Care Setting (2022):

Recommendation 10.1

In adults with no prior history of diabetes hospitalized for noncritical illness with hyperglycemia [defined as blood glucose (BG) > 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)] during hospitalization, we suggest initial therapy with correctional insulin over scheduled insulin therapy (defined as basal or basal/bolus insulin) to maintain glucose targets in the range of 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.6 to 10.0 mmol/L). For patients with persistent hyperglycemia [≥2 point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) measurements ≥ 180 mg/dL (≥10.0 mmol/L) in a 24-hour period on correctional insulin alone], we suggest the addition of scheduled insulin therapy.

Recommendation 10.2

In adults with diabetes treated with diet or noninsulin diabetes medications prior to admission, we suggest initial therapy with correctional insulin or scheduled insulin therapy to maintain glucose targets in the range of 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.6 to 10.0 mmol/L). For hospitalized adults started on correctional insulin alone and with persistent hyperglycemia [≥2 point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) measurements ≥ 180 mg/dL in a 24-hour period (≥10.0 mmol/L)], we suggest addition of scheduled insulin therapy. We suggest initiation of scheduled insulin therapy for patients with confirmed admission blood glucose (BG) ≥ 180 mg/dL (≥10.0 mmol/L).

Recommendation 10.3

In adults with insulin-treated diabetes prior to admission who are hospitalized for noncritical illness, we recommend continuation of the scheduled insulin regimen modified for nutritional status and severity of illness to maintain glucose targets in the range of 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.6 to 10.0 mmol/L).

Remarks

Reductions in the dose of basal insulin (by 10% to 20%) at time of hospitalization may be required for patients on basal heavy insulin regimens (defined as doses of basal insulin ≥ 0.6 to 1.0 units/kg/day), in which basal insulin is being used inappropriately to cover meal-related excursions in BG.

There is no clinically accepted cutoff for severe hyperglycemia. Studies have used thresholds of >140, >180 , >300, and >350 mg/dL, among other values (American Diabetes Association, 2020; Umpierrez et al, 2012, 2015); Jamesen et al., 2015; Donihi et al., 2011; Mendez et al, 2015). BGL <180 mg/dL is associated with lower rates of mortality and stroke compared with a target glucose <200 mg/dL (Sathya, et al., 2013). Glycemic goals may also differ among hospitalized patients. For example, in an older patient with a prior history of severe hypoglycemia, some degree of hyperglycemia may be tolerated to maximize safety. Intensive insulin therapy to target glucose of 100 and 140mg/dLin the ICU didn’t significantly reduce perioperative complications compared with target glucose of 141and180mg/dLafter coronary artery bypass surgery (Umpierrez, 2015).

For patients who present with hyperglycemic crises, neurologic status must be monitored closely, with frequent re-examination. Care should be taken to prevent over-correction of hyperglycemia and hyperosmolarity following initial fluid resuscitation of these patients to prevent cerebral edema, which carries a high mortality rate. (Gosmanov et al., 2021).

Notes

*Note: There are known issues on CMS871v2. See issue EKI-18 and EKI-19 on the ONC eCQM Known Issues Dashboard for details.

Next Version No Version Available
Previous Version No Version Available

Header

  • Replaced 'Not Applicable' with '3533e'.

    Measure Section: NQF Number

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated measure developer from 'IMPAQ International' to 'American Institutes for Research'.

    Measure Section: Measure Developer

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced 'None' with 'National Quality Forum'.

    Measure Section: Endorsed By

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed duplicative information already referenced in the definition section for clarity.

    Measure Section: Description

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated copyright.

    Measure Section: Copyright

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Added citations to reflect updated literature.

    Measure Section: Rationale

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added language regarding the treatment of patients presenting with hyperglycemic crisis.

    Measure Section: Clinical Recommendation Statement

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated references.

    Measure Section: Reference

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Updated version number of the Quality Data Model (QDM) used in the measure specification to v5.6.

    Measure Section: Guidance

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Added language to clarify numerator criteria and return values.

    Measure Section: Guidance

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Revised description to better align with measure intent.

    Measure Section: Initial Population

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added a denominator exclusion of inpatient hospitalizations for patients with an initial blood glucose result of >=1000 mg/dL that starts any time between 1 hour prior to the start of the encounter to 6 hours after the start of the encounter.

    Measure Section: Denominator Exclusions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Revised formatting and punctuation.

    Measure Section: Numerator

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Revised the Measure Observations description to clarify measure intent.

    Measure Section: Measure Observations

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced 'gender' with 'sex' to provide consistent language across eCQMs.

    Measure Section: Supplemental Data Elements

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated language for added clarity and to improve readability.

    Measure Section: Multiple Sections

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

Logic

  • Added 'day of' timing to the Qualifying Encounter definition to clarify the timing precision level.

    Measure Section: Initial Population

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added logic to exclude inpatient hospitalizations for patients with an initial blood glucose result of >=1000 mg/dL that starts any time between 1 hour prior to the start of the encounter to 6 hours after the start of the encounter.

    Measure Section: Denominator Exclusions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced the numerator definition with a single definition statement for improved readability and to align with CQL Style Guide.

    Measure Section: Numerator

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced the 'count' operator with 'sum' to align with measure intent.

    Measure Section: Measure Observations

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Revised the 'Interval To Day Numbers' function by replacing 'days' with 'duration in days' and changing the alias name of 'DayExpand' to 'DayNumber'.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced the Global.CalendarAgeInYearsAt function with the native CQL function AgeInYearsAt to take advantage of existing CQL features and increase human readability. As a result of this change, the LOINC code 21112-8 is no longer required and has been removed from the Terminology section of the human readable specification.

    Measure Section: Multiple Sections

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Updated the names of CQL definitions, functions, and/or aliases for clarification and to align with the CQL Style Guide.

    Measure Section: Multiple Sections

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Updated the version of the Quality Data Model (QDM) to 5.6 and Clinical Quality Language (CQL) to 1.5.

    Measure Section: Multiple Sections

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Updated the version number of the Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) Global Common Functions Library to v7.0.000.

    Measure Section: Multiple Sections

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

Value set

The VSAC is the source of truth for the value set content, please visit the VSAC for downloads of current value sets.

  • Replaced value set Glucose lab test (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1045.134) with value set Glucose Lab Test Mass Per Volume (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1248.34) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed direct reference code LOINC code (21112-8) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Diabetes (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.103.12.1001): Deleted 24 ICD-10-CM codes based on validity of code during timing of look back period.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Hypoglycemics Treatment Medications (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1196.394): Added 44 RxNorm codes based on terminology update. Deleted 4 RxNorm codes (261243, 1544570, 1544571, 1656705) based on terminology update. Deleted 631 RxNorm codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

Last Updated: Mar 04, 2024