Volume : 4, Issue : 7, July - 2015

Development of health and functional status in elderly diabetics living in their own environment – the 7years follow-up.

Hana Matejovskakubesova, Hana Meluzinova, Pavel Weber, Katarina Bielakova, Jan Matejovsky

Abstract :

<p>The aim of study was to assess the development of the health and functional status of elderly diabetics during 7 years follow up. Patients and methods. Group of 161 patients, 101 women and 60 men above 65 years living in their own environment was studied as for complex geriatric assessment parameters and other health status parameters development, diabetics and non diabetics of studied group were compared at the set intervals of 18, 30 and 36 months.. Results. Studied (73.2+6.48 years) comprised 52 diabetics, 12 out of 52 diabetics and 30 out of the 109 non-diabetics died during the study (ns). The MMSE changed from 27.63 + 1.7 points, range 24-30 points to the &ouml;nal 26.2 + 4.5 points, range 14-30 (ns). The results of the depression scale show a trend towards a statistically signi&ouml;cant increase in the incidence and severity of depression. Metabolic serum parameters were signi&ouml;cantly worse in diabetics at the start of the study, but the difference lost its signi&ouml;cance during the study. Conclusions. Interventions against risk factors of cardiovascular damage were more effective in the group of diabetics. This may explain the comparable mortality of the latter despite their higher morbidity. In general, more consistent continuous monitoring of the elderly population as a tool for early diagnostics, therapy and self-sufficiency appears to be effective.</p>