title: The influence of age on the management of patients with diabetes in the Israeli population.
abstract: The authors' aim was to study the association between age and the quality of community health care of diabetes mellitus (DM). This was a cross-sectional study of patients with DM in the setting of a large health maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel. The population included DM patients aged 40-84 years who were identified at emergency rooms or through the HMO's computerized database. A set of quality care indicators were determined. Logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for diabetes care indicators, controlling for age and other potential confounders. Older patients were more likely to be in the target range of glycemic control and to be vaccinated against influenza. Patients older than age 70 years received fewer recommendations for physical activity (OR 0.41, P<0.01) and self-foot examination (OR 0.57, P=0.024). The authors found decreased performance of recommendations for physical activity and self-foot examination, and a higher performance of annual blood tests and immunizations among elderly patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. tiroshamit@gmail.com
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirosh
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazar
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calderon-Margalit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011787:Quality of Health Care