Prevalence of hyperglycemia in the elderly: a population-based study

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of hyperglycemia and associated factors in the elderly population of a municipality in southern Brazil.

Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study, carried out with the elderly (≥60 years) living in the city of Tubarão, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, from September 2010 to May 2011. Participants were selected by simple random sampling. The elderly were registered by the Community Health Agents of the Family's Health Strategy Program. Sociodemographic data (age, gender, skin color, marital status, employment status and education), behavioral data (physical activity, alcohol use and smoking) and clinical data (obesity, drug use and family history of diabetes) were recorded. After answering these questions the participants were scheduled to attend the clinic for blood collection and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of hyperglycemia was assessed from fasting blood glucose tests, and individuals with values ≥126 mg/dL or use of hypoglycemic drugs were considered hyperglycemic. To assess the association between the variables of interest, the chi-square test was applied. The pre-determined confidence interval was of 95% and the error α of 5%.

Results: Eight hundred thirty-three elderly patients were included, and 220 were considered hyperglycemic according to the methodology criteria (prevalence of 26.4%). Of the patients included in the hyperglycemia group, 190 were using oral hypoglycemic drugs, and of these, 112 had also fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, while in 78 fasting glucose was <126 mg/dL. Also in the hyperglycemia group, 30 patients had fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL and were not on hypoglycemic treatment. Having parents diagnosed with diabetes and being obese were associated with the presence of hyperglycemia.

Conclusions: This study suggests that a large portion of the elderly population have fasting hyperglycemia, requiring a wider evaluation for diabetes mellitus