Individualized, Non–Age-Based Glycemic Control in Elderly Veterans With Diabetes

  1. Drew A. Helmer, MD12,
  2. Usha Sambamoorthi, PHD23,
  3. Mangala Rajan, MBA1,
  4. Chin-Lin Tseng, DPH12 and
  5. Leonard M. Pogach, MD12
  1. 1Center for Healthcare Knowledge Management, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey
  2. 2New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
  3. 3Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Drew Helmer, MD, MEDVAMC, 2002 Holcombe Blvd. (111PC), Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: drew.helmer{at}va.gov

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To examine the role of age and endocrinology care in glycemic testing and control in elderly veterans with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In this retrospective study of Veterans Health Administration clinic users aged ≥65 years with diabetes, we compared glycemic testing and poor glycemic control (A1C >9%) between older (≥75 years) and younger (65–74 years) veterans in the year 2000.

RESULTS—Without adjustment, rates for glycemic testing were 70.2% in older and 71.1% in younger veterans, and those for poor control were 9.4% in older and 12.8% in younger veterans. After adjustment, older veterans had 1.8% lower probability of glycemic testing and 2.9% lower probability of poor control than younger veterans. Endocrinology care was associated with a higher probability of both glycemic testing (9.7%) and poor control (1.0%), regardless of age.

CONCLUSIONS—Glycemic testing and control and effect of endocrinology care were comparable in older and younger veterans with diabetes.

Footnotes

  • Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 17 January 2008. DOI: 10.2337/dc07-1431.

    The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

    • Accepted January 7, 2008.
    • Received July 24, 2007.
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  1. Published online before print January 17, 2008, doi: 10.2337/dc07-1431 Diabetes Care April 2008 vol. 31 no. 4 728-731
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