title: Clinical and laboratory profile of diabetes in elderly.
abstract: India is amidst a demographic transition showing an ageing trend. This will increase non-communicable diseases including diabetes which is already showing an increasing trend. With scanty literature existing on elderly diabetics (> 60 years of age), it was decided to study the clinico-laboratory and complication profile of this group of patients. Fifty consecutive elderly diabetics were studied and evaluated for ECG, chest x-ray, blood sugar, urea, creatinine, lipid profile, proteinuria, motor nerve conduction velocity and autonomic neuropathy. Duration of diabetes varied from one month to 28 years. Fifty-six per cent of the patients presented with classical symptoms of polyuria, polyphagia and polydipsia. Hypertension was present in 40% and cataract in 54% of the patients. Eighteen per cent were obese, 52% had evidence of peripheral neuropathy while 56% had autonomic neuropathy. Background diabetic retinopathy was present in 56%, pre-proliferative retinopathy and maculopathy in 4% each; hypertensive retinopathy in 10% of patients; 44% had microproteinuria and 8% had chronic renal failure. Hypercholesterolaemia was present in 64% and hypertriglyceridaemia in 42% of the patients with 26% having coronary artery disease. Sixty per cent were harbouring infections--20% had foot infections, 14% had tuberculosis and 10% had urinary tract infections. Ninety-two per cent of the patients were aware of their disease but 62% were not aware of the complications and of the need for strict dietary and drug compliance. There was a high prevalence of associated diseases viz, osteoarthritis, cataract, hypertension, hepatitis and parkinsonism. Therefore, this study brings out the need to have a holistic and multidisciplinary approach for management of elderly diabetics who constitute a heterogeneous group with distinct health care problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pugazhendhi
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution