Individualized, non-age-based glycemic control in elderly veterans with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of age and endocrinology care in glycemic testing and control in elderly veterans with diabetes.


METHODS
In this retrospective study of Veterans Health Administration clinic users aged > or = 65 years with diabetes, we compared glycemic testing and poor glycemic control (A1C > 9%) between older (> or = 75 years) and younger (65-74 years) veterans in the year 2000.


RESULTS
Without adjustment, rates for glycemic testing were 70.2% in older and 71.1% in younger veterans, and those for poor control were 9.4% in older and 12.8% in younger veterans. After adjustment, older veterans had 1.8% lower probability of glycemic testing and 2.9% lower probability of poor control than younger veterans. Endocrinology care was associated with a higher probability of both glycemic testing (9.7%) and poor control (1.0%), regardless of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Glycemic testing and control and effect of endocrinology care were comparable in older and younger veterans with diabetes.
Helmer
Drew A
DA
Center for Healthcare Knowledge Management, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey, USA. drew.helmer@va.gov
Sambamoorthi
Usha
U
Rajan
Mangala
M
Tseng
Chin-Lin
CL
Pogach
Leonard M
LM
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001786:Blood Glucose