GERODIAB: Glycaemic control and 5-year morbidity/mortality of type 2 diabetic patients aged 70 years and older: 1. Description of the population at inclusion.

Abstract

AIMS:

The GERODIAB study is the first French multicentre, prospective, observational study that aims, through a 5-year cohort follow-up, to evaluate the link between glycaemic control and morbidity/mortality of type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients aged 70 years and older. This first report describes the study population at inclusion.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A total of 987 T2D autonomous patients, aged ≥70 years, were recruited between June 2009 and July 2010 at 56 investigator centres. Their general parameters, diabetes characteristics and standard geriatric parameters were recorded.

RESULTS:

The patients' mean age was 77±5 years, with 65.2% aged 75 years or more. The mean BMI was close to 30 kg/m(2). Hypertension was found in 89.7% of patients, and 85.0% had at least one cholesterol abnormality. The mean duration of the diabetes was around 18 years, and the mean HbA(1c) level was about 7.5%. During the previous six months, 33.6% of patients had experienced one or several hypoglycaemias. Also, 26% of patients presented with diabetic retinopathy, 37.3% had a GFR<60 mL/min, 31.2% had coronary insufficiency, 10.1% had heart failure, 15.8% had cerebrovascular involvement and 25.6% had peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities. In addition, 30.5% of patients had orthostatic hypotension, 12.4% had malnutrition and 28.8% had cognitive impairment, all of which were often diagnosed at inclusion. Three-quarters of patients were taking an oral antidiabetic drug and nearly six in every 10 patients were using insulin.

CONCLUSION:

This population can be considered representative of elderly, autonomous T2D patients, and its follow-up should clarify the link between glycaemic control and mortality/morbidity.

• Authors: J Doucet, J-P Le Floch, B Bauduceau, C Verny, SFD/SFGG Intergroup
• Journal: Diabetes & metabolism (Diabetes Metab) Vol. 38 Issue 6 Pg. 523-30 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1878-1780 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 23062595 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hypoglycemic Agents

Topics

• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Cohort Studies
• Diabetes Complications
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (drug therapy, epidemiology, mortality)
• France (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Hypoglycemic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• Research Design
• Risk Factors
• Waist Circumference