Diabetes in an elderly population. A controlled study of morbidity and outcomes

To determine in an elderly diabetic population the frequency of vascular and related disorders, the mortality, and outcomes compared with a matched control group.

The Queen Elizabeth Geriatric Centre, Ballarat, Victoria.

The medical records of all diabetics admitted between 1982 and 1987 inclusive, and a control group matched for age, sex and ward of admission were studied retrospectively. The presence of associated conditions and outcome parameters were entered in to a database and analysed statistically.

Increased prevalence in individuals with diabetes of ischaemic heart disease (2.0:1.0), cerebrovascualr accident (1.9:1.0) and hypertension (1.5:1.0). Similar death rate, cumulative bed days, discharge destination and use of discharge services.

Despite the more frequent presence of clinical vascular disease, an elderly population with diabetes had the same outcomes as matched controls and did not require more bed occupancy or use of community based services.