Ri. Shorr et al., Glycemic control of older adults with type 2 diabetes: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994, J AM GER SO, 48(3), 2000, pp. 264-267
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","General & Internal Medicine
BACKGROUND: Although nearly half of all people who have diabetes are aged 6
5 or older, glycemic control of older adults with diabetes has nor been wel
l described.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,482 participants with se
lf-reported type 2 diabetes in the Third National Health and Nutrition Exam
ination Survey, 1988-1994 (NHANES III), a nationally representative sample
of the US noninstitutionalized civilian population. Variables included in t
his analysis included age, sociodemographic factors, drug treatment, and le
vel of glycemic control.
RESULTS: The mean % (+/-SE) HbA(1c) was 7.78 +/- 0.21, 7.64 +/- 0.18, 7.71
+/- 0.14, and 7.27 +/- 0.14 in persons aged 20 to 54, 55 to 64, 65 to 74 an
d greater than or equal to 75 years, respectively. The mean mg/dL (+/-SE) f
asting plasma glucose (FPG) was 175.9 +/- 7.6, 164.5 +/- 6.1, 183.3 +/- 5.3
, and 158.5 +/- 5.5 in the four age groups and older, respectively. When co
ntrolling for race, gender, education, and duration of diabetes, age was no
t significantly associated with levels of HbA(1c) [P (trend) = 0.17] or FPG
[P (trend) = 0.19].
Among NHANES III participants aged 65 or older, ADA guidelines for glycemic
control (HbA(1c) < 7%) were achieved by 71%, 44%, and 27% of persons using
no drug therapy, oral hypoglycemic agents, and insulin, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Although many older adults with type 2 diabetes do not achieve
targets for glucose control, there is no evidence to suggest that communit
y-dwelling older adults with diabetes are treated less vigorously than youn
ger persons with diabetes.