Prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities and cardiovascular co-morbidity in the US elderly adult population.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities, including diabetes, and its associated cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidity in the US elderly population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994) in adults aged 65 years and more. The 1997 American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the 1998 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used to classify the subject's glucose metabolism status. The 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed only among those participants aged 40 to 74 years.


RESULTS
The age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was 12.5% (95% CI: 11.4%-13.6%) among US adults aged 65 years or more. According to the ADA definition 40% of men and 28% of women were affected by some degree of glucose metabolism impairment. According to the WHO definition, 55% of men and 50% of women aged 65 to 74 years were affected by glucose metabolism abnormalities. Mexican-Americans were the most affected under both definitions (51% and 77%, respectively). Overall, 72% of elderly diagnosed diabetics had hypertension, 28% had coronary heart disease (CHD), 47% suffered from cardiovascular disease and 80% of them presented known CHD or multiple coronary risk factors, other than age, level of LDL-cholesterol and diabetes. Under both definitions, a trend towards a worsening coronary risk profile with increased glucose metabolism impairment was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A notable proportion of elderly people is affected by some degree of glucose metabolism impairment which in turn is associated with cardiovascular co-morbidity.
Novartis Farmaceutica S.A., Global Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain.
Cristina
C
Varas-Lorenzo
Ana Maria
AM
Rueda de Castro
Andrew
A
Maguire
Montserrat
M
Miret
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003404:Creatinine; D005947:Glucose