title: The social burden of hypoglycemia in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia (SH) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and their impact on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 12 Italian regions. Participants filled in a questionnaire collecting data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and episodes of SH occurred in the last 4 weeks. The questionnaire included validated scales measuring fear of hypoglycemia (FHQ), psychological well-being (WHO-5), and diabetes-related distress (PAID-5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,323 participants were involved (mean age 70.0 ± 8.7, 47.6 % male, disease duration 15.6 ± 11.7, 63.2 % treated with oral agents, 16.9 % with insulin alone, 14.4 % with insulin plus oral agents), of whom 44.6 % reported 1-3 episodes of SH and 23.8 % reported more than 3 episodes. Patients who reported SH had significantly higher levels of fear of hypoglycemia, lower psychological well-being, and higher diabetes-related distress (p < 0.0001 for all the scales). At multivariate analysis, the experience of more than 3 episodes of hypoglycemia was associated with a 13-fold higher risk of high fear of hypoglycemia (aOR = 13.3; CI 95 % 8.4-21.0), an almost 60-fold higher risk of high diabetes-related distress (PAID-5 score ≥40) (aOR = 59.1; CI 95 % 29.2-119.8), and a higher risk of low psychological well-being (WHO-5 <50) (aOR = 1.5; CI 95 % 0.9-2.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of symptoms of hypoglycemia is very common among older adults with diabetes and their presence is associated with an extremely negative impact on quality of life. Minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia represents a high priority in the diabetes treatment of elderly people.
authors: Italian Barometer Diabetes Observatory, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, nicolucci@negrisud.it.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Nicolucci
authors: Basilio
authors: B
authors: Pintaudi
authors: Maria Chiara
authors: MC
authors: Rossi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Messina
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Dotta
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Frontoni
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Caputo
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Lauro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin