Advertisement

Glycemic Control in Elderly Veterans with Diabetes: Individualized, not age-based

  1. Drew A. Helmer, MD (drew.helmer{at}va.gov)1,,2,
  2. Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD2,,3,
  3. Mangala Rajan, MBA1,
  4. Chin-Lin Tseng, DrPH1,,2 and
  5. Leonard M. Pogach, MD1,,2
  1. 1Center for Healthcare Knowledge Management, VA-New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ
  2. 2University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey, Newark, NJ
  3. 3Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

    Abstract

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

    Research Design & Methods: Retrospective study of Veterans Health Administration clinic users aged 65+ years with diabetes. We compared glycemic testing and control (HbA1c>9%) in 2000 between old-old (75+ years) and young-old (65-74 years) veterans.

    Results: Without adjustment, rates for glycemic testing were 70.2% in old-old and 71.1% in young-old veterans and poor control were 9.4% in old-old and 12.8% in young-old. After adjustment, old-old veterans had 1.8% lower probability of glycemic testing and 2.9% lower probability of poor control than young-old. 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 old-old and young-old veterans with diabetes.

    Footnotes

      • Received July 24, 2007.
      • Accepted January 7, 2008.

    This Article

    1. Published online before print January 17, 2008, doi: 10.2337/dc07-1431 Diabetes Care January 17, 2008
    1. » Abstract
    2. Full Text (PDF)
    3. All Versions of this Article:
      1. dc07-1431v1
      2. 31/4/728 most recent

    Current Issue

    1. February 2012, 35 (2)
    1. Current Issue
    1. Alert me to new issues of Diabetes Care
    Advertisement