open access

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)
Original paper
Submitted: 2021-01-29
Accepted: 2021-03-02
Published online: 2021-03-22
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Prevalence and socioeconomic predictors of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in oldest-old and younger Caucasian seniors: results from the PolSenior study

Monika Puzianowska-Kuźnicka12, Joanna Januszkiewicz-Caulier3, Alina Kurylowicz1, Malgorzata Mossakowska4, Tomasz Zdrojewski5, Aleksandra Szybalska4, Anna Skalska6, Jerzy Chudek7, Edward Franek31
·
Pubmed: 33749811
·
Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(3):249-255.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
  3. Department of Internal Diseases, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Central Clinical Hospital of the MSWiA in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
  4. PolSenior Project, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
  5. Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University in Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  6. Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
  7. Department of Internal Medicine and Oncological Chemotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland

open access

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2021-01-29
Accepted: 2021-03-02
Published online: 2021-03-22

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the aging population; however, data concerning correlates of diabetes in age-advanced individuals are limited. The study aimed to identify the socioeconomic correlates of diabetes in representative groups of oldest-old (≥ 85 years) and younger (65 to 84 years) Polish Caucasian seniors.

Material and methods: PolSenior is a multicentre, population-based study conducted in Poland. Fasting plasma glucose levels and data from detailed medical questionnaires were obtained from 2128 male and 1961 female study participants aged ≥ 65 years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant socioeconomic risk factors for diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes.

Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes in the study group was 21.9% (24.0% in women vs. 19.9% in men, p = 0.002), with an estimated weighted prevalence for all older Poles of 23.1%. Nearly one-fifth of cases were previously undiagnosed. Diabetes was more common in the younger elderly (65–84 years) than in the oldest-old (≥ 85 years) (23.4% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001). The frequency of diabetes was higher in women than in men (24.0% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.002); however, men remained undiagnosed more commonly than women (4.7% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.029). The frequency of diabetes was higher among urban than rural dwellers (23% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.048). It was also related to marital status in women (p = 0.036) and occupation in men (p = 0.015). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for diabetes were body mass index (BMI) and marital status in women, while in men it was solely BMI. Undiagnosed diabetes was more frequent among rural than city dwellers (4.8% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.03). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only BMI and place of residence remained significant risk factors for being undiagnosed.

Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes in the ≥ 65-year-old population exceeds 20% but is lower in the oldest-old than in the younger elderly and is modified by socioeconomic factors. Many elderly individuals remain undiagnosed and do not benefit from the currently available therapy.

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the aging population; however, data concerning correlates of diabetes in age-advanced individuals are limited. The study aimed to identify the socioeconomic correlates of diabetes in representative groups of oldest-old (≥ 85 years) and younger (65 to 84 years) Polish Caucasian seniors.

Material and methods: PolSenior is a multicentre, population-based study conducted in Poland. Fasting plasma glucose levels and data from detailed medical questionnaires were obtained from 2128 male and 1961 female study participants aged ≥ 65 years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant socioeconomic risk factors for diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes.

Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes in the study group was 21.9% (24.0% in women vs. 19.9% in men, p = 0.002), with an estimated weighted prevalence for all older Poles of 23.1%. Nearly one-fifth of cases were previously undiagnosed. Diabetes was more common in the younger elderly (65–84 years) than in the oldest-old (≥ 85 years) (23.4% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001). The frequency of diabetes was higher in women than in men (24.0% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.002); however, men remained undiagnosed more commonly than women (4.7% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.029). The frequency of diabetes was higher among urban than rural dwellers (23% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.048). It was also related to marital status in women (p = 0.036) and occupation in men (p = 0.015). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for diabetes were body mass index (BMI) and marital status in women, while in men it was solely BMI. Undiagnosed diabetes was more frequent among rural than city dwellers (4.8% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.03). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only BMI and place of residence remained significant risk factors for being undiagnosed.

Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes in the ≥ 65-year-old population exceeds 20% but is lower in the oldest-old than in the younger elderly and is modified by socioeconomic factors. Many elderly individuals remain undiagnosed and do not benefit from the currently available therapy.

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Keywords

diabetes; undiagnosed diabetes; elderly; socioeconomic factors; socioeconomic inequity

About this article
Title

Prevalence and socioeconomic predictors of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in oldest-old and younger Caucasian seniors: results from the PolSenior study

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

249-255

Published online

2021-03-22

Page views

1101

Article views/downloads

559

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2021.0029

Pubmed

33749811

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2021;72(3):249-255.

Keywords

diabetes
undiagnosed diabetes
elderly
socioeconomic factors
socioeconomic inequity

Authors

Monika Puzianowska-Kuźnicka
Joanna Januszkiewicz-Caulier
Alina Kurylowicz
Malgorzata Mossakowska
Tomasz Zdrojewski
Aleksandra Szybalska
Anna Skalska
Jerzy Chudek
Edward Franek

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