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Background: According to literature data, 23% of diabetic subjects are more than 65 years old and high prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications are responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in elderly diabetic patients.
Objective: To evaluate the frequency of elderly diabetic patients and to identify factors associated with high morbidity and mortality rate.
Patients and Method: It is a cross- sectional study including diabetic patients hospitalized from 2010, January 1st to 2012, December 31st. Were considered elderly diabetic patients, patients who were 65 years or more old. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi [2] test and Student test. Difference was considered significant for
p<0.05.
Results: A total of 478 patients were hospitalized during the study period and 135 were 65 years or older making a prevalence rate of elderly diabetic patients of 28.20%. Mean age of elderly diabetic patients was 71.83±6.32 years with extremes of 65 and 94 years.
The main complications observed were significantly more frequent in elderly diabetic patients than in others: diabetic foot, 46.70% versus 17.0% (p<10-4); poor control of diabetes, 28.10% versus 35.10% ( p<0.07); Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome,
20.0% versus 10.0% (p=0.002); Neuropathy, 54.90% versus 17.70% (p<10-4); Leg arteriopathy, 48.90% versus 10.80% (p<10-4) and diabetic nephropathy, 37.80% versus 3.0% (p<10-4). The same figure was observed with high blood pressure, 87.89% versus 63.94% (p=0.03). The evolution during hospitalization was marked by a high mortality rate of 34.10%. All chronic complications of diabetes (arteriopathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and diabetic foot) were significantly more frequent in elderly diabetic patients than in non-older and were significantly associated with mortality with p value <10-4.
Conclusion: Elderly adult diabetes become more and more prevalent even in developing countries and is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The main cause of hospitalization was diabetic foot. Education for diabetic foot prevention would allow
to reduce hospitalization rate and mortality rate in elderly diabetic patients. |