Abstract

ACOSTA GARCIA, Yusimy et al. Clinical epidemiological behavior of diabetes mellitus in the elderly. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp.92-101. ISSN 1561-3194.

Introduction: diabetes mellitus is a chronic and very prevalent disease in geriatric population, which can interact or be a cause of different syndromes in old ages. Objective: to characterize clinical-epidemiological behavior of diabetes mellitus in the elderly. Material and method: a descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted at “Isabel Rubio” outpatient clinic belonging to the Popular Council of San Diego de los Baños, Los Palacios municipality during January-July 2011. The study included a target group of 198 diabetic old people diagnosed in their family clinical records and the sample was comprised of 103 old people chosen at random. Descriptive statistics and chi square test were applied. Results: diabetes mellitus type 2 prevailed in the elderly from 60 to 69 years old, and in female sex (P>0,05). The combination of diet plus oral hypoglycemic medications was the most used scheme; 85,2% followed the treatment correctly, 39,0% of the elderly had an ideal control of glycemia levels. Conclusions: diabetes mellitus type 2 prevailed in ages from 60 to 69 and in female sex. More than ¾ of the elderly underwent pharmacological treatment, diet plus oral hypoglycemic medications resulted in the most used therapeutic scheme. The majority of the old people followed a medication therapy and more than ¼ of the diabetic old people presented an ideal metabolic control.

Keywords : The elderly; Diabetes mellitus non-insulin dependent; Medication scheme.

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