title: The METABOLIC Study: multidimensional assessment of health and functional status in older patients with type 2 diabetes taking oral antidiabetic treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the METABOLIC Study was to evaluate overall health status, with particular focus on assessment of functional status of older patients taking oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 1342 type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥ 65 years treated with OADs, with or without insulin, who had been referred to outpatients clinics across Italy. Information on diabetes (duration, medications taken during the last 3 months, hypoglycaemic events and diabetic complications) was collected by questionnaire, and the patients' overall health status was assessed using a multidimensional prognostic index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample recruited (mean age: 73.3 ± 5.5 years) had a mean duration of diabetes of 11.3 ± 8.2 years. Half were taking sulphonylureas alone or together with other medications, 9.7% were taking insulin in combination with other OADs, almost 30% were using biguanides and 6.2% were taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Also, 12% of patients reported hypoglycaemic events, 90% of whom were taking insulin or sulphonylureas. In addition, 81% of the participants were completely independent in their activities of daily living, while 19% were mildly, moderately or severely disabled. Age, female gender, hypoglycaemic events, neuropathy and low diastolic blood pressure were the main variables associated with disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disability is common in older diabetic patients and some associated factors, such as hypoglycaemia and low diastolic blood pressure, have been identified. Also identified was malnutrition as a specific factor associated with hypoglycaemic events independent of the use of insulin and sulphonylureas.
authors.affiliation: CNR - Institute of Neuroscience, Aging Branch, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiengo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavallo Perin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents