Glycemic control in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending primary health care units.

Abstract

To assess the glycemic control in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attend the primary health care units in the city of Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study with elderly people registered at the family health care system. Glycemic control was the dependent variable, which was measured by means of glycated hemoglobin test, whereas sociodemographic and clinical data were independent variables. 243 elderly people participated in the study, with the majority being females (67.1%), Caucasian (58.4%), within the age group of 60-69 years old (53.9%) and less than four years of study (74.9%). The mean glycated hemoglobin test was 7.2% (SD = 1.7). It was observed that 74.1% of the subjects had glycated hemoglobin test lower than 8.0%. A positive association between glycemic control and combined use of oral anti-diabetic drugs plus insulin was evidenced, whereas presence of cardiovascular disease, ulcer and amputation of lower extremities were the negative associations. The combined use of oral anti-diabetic drugs plus insulin was associated with adequate glycemic control in this elderly population. Among those who reported having a diabetic chronic complication, that is those who needed a stricter diabetes control, was observed a higher frequency of poor glycemic control. These findings are relevant in the primary care context to guide health care and interventions to achieve success in diabetes control.