[Monitoring hypoglycemia in elderly diabetic patients: a prospective study].
Hypoglycaemia is often underestimated in the elderly diabetic patient, as clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia in these patients are frequently atypical. This prospective study, enrolling 100 elderly diabetic patients (age: 79.3 years) shows a great incidence of hypoglycaemic events (24%) during the first day of hospitalisation in a geriatric unit. According to the results of this study, common risk factors for hypoglycaemia in the elderly (advanced age, insulin therapy, renal insufficiency, polymedication, fragility) have no significant predictive value. It appears that screening for risk factors is not enough to prevent hypoglycaemia in the elderly diabetic patient, thereby a careful monitoring of glycaemia during the first days (and nights) of hospitalisation is required. Renewed efforts at better defining appropriate therapeutic goals, taking into account the patient's life expectancy and comorbidities, will help prevent the occurrence of hypoglycaemia in the elderly diabetic patient.
Coutaz
M
M
Centre de gériatrie du Bas-Valais, Clinique St-Amé, 1890 St-Maurice.
Nicod
M
M
Chassot
M
M
Morisod
J
J
D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies