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Epidemiology of Hyperglycemia in Elderly Persons

^a Department of Community Medicine, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
^b Department of Emergency, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Shih-Wei Lai, Department of Community Medicine, China Medical College Hospital, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan E-mail: shihweil{at}ms2.hinet.net.

Decision Editor: John E. Morley, MB, BCh

Background. Our study used data collected in the Chung-Shing-Shin-Tseun community of Taiwan in May 1998 to evaluate the distribution of fasting glucose and the relation between hyperglycemia and the cardiovascular risk factors and sociodemographic factors in elderly persons.

Methods. Individuals aged 65 and over were recruited as study subjects. A total of 1,093 persons, out of 1,774 registered residents, were contacted in face-to-face interviews. The response rate was 61.6%. However, only 586 respondents took blood tests and completed questionnaires. Analysis in this study was based on these 586 subjects. The t test, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used to study the significant correlates of hyperglycemia.

Results. Of the individuals in our study, 66.0% were men and 34.0% were women. The mean age was 73.1 ± 5.3 years. The mean values of fasting glucose were 5.5 ± 1.6 mmol/L in elderly men and 5.7 ± 2.1 mmol/L in elderly women. The hyperglycemic rates determined by modified World Health Organization criteria (6.05 mmol/L) were 20.2% in elderly men and 20.7% in elderly women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used, after controlling the other covariates, to show that the significant related factors in hyperglycemia were obesity (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–4.5), high systolic pressure (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.0), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.03–4.4). No significant association was found between hyperglycemia and gender, age, high diastolic pressure, abnormal glutamic pyruvic transaminase, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, renal function impairment, education level, retirement status, or marital status.

Conclusions. The prevalence of hyperglycemia is high in elderly persons. Hyperglycemia is significantly associated with obesity, high systolic pressure, and hypertriglyceridemia in elderly persons. It is important to examine other cardiovascular risk factors if one cardiovascular risk factor is observed.

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