Hospitalization and Mortality of Diabetes in Older Adults: A 3-year prospective study
- Mark J Rosenthal, MD,
- Mercedes Fajardo, PHARMD,
- Stephanie Gilmore, BA,
- John E Morley, MD and
- Bruce D Naliboff, PHD
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Sepulveda Veterans Health Administration Medical Center Sepulveda
- Psychophysiology Research, Veterans Administration Medical Center Los Angeles, California
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, St. Louis University St. Louis, Missouri
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Mark J. Rosenthal, MD, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (11E), Sepulveda Veterans Health Administration Medical Center, 16111 Plummer St., Sepulveda, CA 91343.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In light of increased fatality from acute events and the increased frequency of chronic complications, life expectancy might well be shortened in older patients with diabetes. The current studies investigated factors affecting the likelihood of dying or being hospitalized in older patients with diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 135 older patients with diabetes were followed for 3 years after predictive factors were evaluated and compared with a cohort of patients without diabetes.
RESULTS Mortality was only 3,250 per 100,000 patient-years, similar to that for patients without diabetes, but the frequency of hospitalizations was more than twice as high in patients with diabetes. Five factors predicted hospitalization and death. Of these, the geriatric depression score was the best predictor of these poor outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS Older patients with diabetes were hospitalized more often than those without diabetes, but mortality was similar. Dysphoria is a major predictor of poor outcomes in older patients with diabetes.
- Received June 27, 1997.
- Revision received October 21, 1997.
- Accepted October 21, 1997.
- Copyright © 1998 by the American Diabetes Association
