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Glycemic Control of Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994
Author(s) -
Shorr Ronald I.,
Franse Lonneke V.,
Resnick Helaine E.,
Bari Mauro,
Johnson Karen C.,
Pahor Marco
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb02644.x
Subject(s) - medicine , national health and nutrition examination survey , glycemic , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , gerontology , population , cross sectional study , endocrinology , environmental health , pathology
BACKGROUND : Although nearly half of all people who have diabetes are aged 65 or older, glycemic control of older adults with diabetes has not been well described. METHODS : We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 1,482 participants with self‐reported type 2 diabetes in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994 (NHANES III), a nationally representative sample of the US noninstitutionalized civilian population. Variables included in this analysis included age, sociodemographic factors, drug treatment, and level 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 and ≥75 years, respectively. The mean mg/dL (±SE) fasting 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 controlling for race, gender, education, and duration of diabetes, age was not 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 community‐dwelling older adults with diabetes are treated less vigorously than younger persons with diabetes. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 264–267, 2000 .