title: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and related complications in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 and over in the Republic of Ireland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes and its related complications in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the Republic of Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the first wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), (2009-2011). Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes prevalence was estimated by self-report or the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents. The prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications was determined by self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes prevalence was 8.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.8-9.0%] and was higher among men [10.3% (95% CI: 9.4-11.2%)] than women [6.6% (95% CI: 5.9-7.5%)]; P ≤ 0.001. Among participants with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, the overall prevalence of microvascular complications was 26.0% (95% CI: 22.4-30.0%) with no evidence of gender-specific differences (P = 0.7). The overall prevalence of macrovascular complications was 15.1% (95% CI: 12.2-18.4%) and was higher among men [17.8% (95% CI: 14.3-23.1%)] than women [11.4% (95% CI: 7.7-16.4%)]; P ≤ 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of a national diabetes register, these findings provide a robust estimate of the national prevalence of diagnosed Type 2 diabetes and level of complications among adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tracey
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, Cork, Republic of Ireland.|Department of Public Health, Heath Service Executive (HSE) South, Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Canavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kearney
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents