Glycemic control of older adults with type 2 diabetes: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.
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) HbA1c 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 > or = 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 HbA1c [P (trend) =0.17] or FPG [P (trend) =0.19]. Among NHANES III participants aged 65 or older, ADA guidelines for glycemic control (HbA1c < 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.
Shorr
R I
RI
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Methodist Healthcare, 38105, USA.
Franse
L V
LV
Resnick
H E
HE
Di Bari
M
M
Johnson
K C
KC
Pahor
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents