Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Preoperative Optimization of Diabetic Patients

This study is a review of past medical records from hospitals in Alberta, Canada. Researchers are looking at adults with diabetes who have had surgery since November 2019. The main goal is to find out how common diabetes is in surgical patients and how often a specific blood test, called HbA1C, is done within three months before their operation. This test gives an idea of long-term blood sugar control. The study also wants to see if this HbA1C level is often higher than normal in these patients. Ultimately, they are trying to understand if better blood sugar control *before* surgery might be linked to a shorter hospital stay or a lower risk of serious problems after the operation. It's about improving care for diabetic patients undergoing surgery.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Enrolment target

46,000

Start

22 Jan 2025

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Diabetes Surgery Related Complications Rate

What is this study about?

When you have diabetes and need surgery, it's really important for your medical team to understand how well your blood sugar has been controlled. One key blood test for this is called HbA1C. It gives a picture of your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. Some doctors think that having high HbA1C levels before surgery might mean you're more likely to have problems afterwards, like infections or a longer recovery.

However, it's not always clear if high HbA1C itself is the real problem, or if it's just a sign that blood sugar wasn't well managed during the actual surgery. Other studies have shown that blood sugar levels *during* surgery might be more important for predicting serious issues. At the University of Alberta, doctors noticed that not all diabetic patients had an up-to-date HbA1C test before their operations, and even when they did, their diabetes control varied a lot.

This study aims to look back at the medical records of all adults with diabetes who had surgery in Alberta since November 2019. They want to see how many people had diabetes, how often a recent HbA1C was recorded, and what those HbA1C levels were. The study will also explore if there's a link between these HbA1C levels and how long patients stayed in hospital, or even their risk of serious problems after surgery. The hope is that understanding this better will help improve care and outcomes for diabetic patients needing surgery in the future.

Key takeaways

This study looks at past medical records, not new patients.
It aims to understand diabetes control (HbA1C) before surgery in Alberta.
Researchers want to see if better control leads to better surgical outcomes.
No new tests or participant involvement is required.
The goal is to improve care for future diabetic surgical patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking at information already collected from patients who have had surgery in Alberta since November 2019. It's not a study where you would actively join and receive new treatments.

To be included in the information reviewed, a person must have been an adult (aged 18 or older) and have had any type of surgery at any hospital in Alberta, Canada.

Since this study uses past medical records, you don't need to do anything to be part of it, and no new tests or procedures will be carried out on you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you 18 or older at the time of your surgery?
Did you have surgery at a hospital in Alberta, Canada?
Did your surgery happen in November 2019 or after?
Do you have a diagnosis of diabetes?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is a study that looks at existing medical records, not a study where you would directly take part. It means researchers are reviewing information that has already been collected from patients who had surgery in Alberta since November 2019. Therefore, there are no visits, assessments, new medications, or follow-up appointments for you to consider. The study doesn't involve any direct interaction with patients, nor does it ask anyone to change their usual medical care. The total 'duration' of participation refers to the period of time your past medical information would be included in the review, if you meet the criteria.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only looks at existing, anonymised medical records, there are no direct risks to patients. Your personal information will be protected. There are also no direct benefits to individual patients taking part, as no new treatments are given. However, the potential benefit is to future patients. By better understanding how diabetes control before surgery affects recovery, doctors can improve care and potentially reduce complications for many people needing surgery in the future. As it's a review of past data, there's no need for patients to 'withdraw' from the study.

Locations (1)

University of Alberta
Verified postcode
Edmonton, Canada

Common questions

What is an HbA1C test?

It's a blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It helps doctors see how well your diabetes has been managed.

Will I have to do anything if my records are included?

No, you don't need to do anything. This study only reviews existing medical information, so there are no new tests or actions required from you.

Who is funding this study?

The information provided doesn't state who is funding the study. This is a common detail found in more comprehensive trial registrations.

Will my privacy be protected?

Yes, studies like this use anonymised data, meaning your personal details that could identify you are removed to protect your privacy.

Why is this study important?

It's important because it could help doctors understand how to better prepare diabetic patients for surgery, potentially leading to smoother recoveries and fewer problems.