Impact of antidiabetic medications on physical and cognitive functioning of older Mexican Americans with diabetes mellitus: a population-based cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was designed to evaluate the utility of antidiabetic medications in affecting changes in physical and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans with diabetes over a 2-year period.


METHODS
A longitudinal analysis with repeated measurements between 1999 and 2001 was performed in a cohort of Mexican Americans, 60 or older, in the SALSA Project. Statistical analysis was conducted using a generalized estimating equation.


RESULTS
For subjects with diagnosed diabetes </= 5 years (N = 381), there was less decline in physical and cognitive functioning over 2 years among subjects on treatment, compared to those without treatment. For subjects with diagnosed diabetes of 5+ years (N = 337), the effect of antidiabetic medications was more significant in preventing the decline in physical and cognitive functioning (ADL: mean in log scale = -0.10, 95% CI = -0.16, -0.04, 3MS: mean = 6.35, 95% CI = 3.23, 9.48). Combination therapy of antidiabetic agents appeared to be more effective than monotherapy in preventing the decline in physical and cognitive functioning for subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Antidiabetic drugs appear to be useful in alleviating the decline in physical and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans with diabetes, especially for those with a longer duration of the disease.
Wu
Jasmanda H
JH
University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Haan
Mary N
MN
Liang
Jersey
J
Ghosh
Debashis
D
Gonzalez
Hector M
HM
Herman
William H
WH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents