Diabetes in older people: new insights and remaining challenges

Oxidative balance score as a useful predictive marker for new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korean adults aged 60 years or older: The Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study-Health Examination (KoGES-HEXA) cohort

BACKGROUND

The oxidative balance score (OBS) is a comprehensive pro- and anti-oxidative marker for assessing the risk of various metabolic diseases and cancers. However, it is not well established whether OBS is related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in elderly populations. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the longitudinal effect of OBS on T2DM in a large cohort of Korean adults aged 60 years and older.

METHODS

We assessed the data for 3516 participants aged 60 years and older without diabetes mellitus from the Health Examinees cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. We classified the participants into three groups according to OBS tertiles. We prospectively assessed hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for new-onset T2DM using multivariable Cox proportional-hazard regression models during the mean 3.5 years following the baseline survey.

RESULTS

A total of 109 participants (3.1 %) developed T2DM during a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 11.73 for the lowest OBS tertile (T1), 8.19 for the second tertile (T2), and 6.23 for the highest tertile (T3). Adjusting for all confounding factors, compared with the referent T1, the HR (95 % CI) of new-onset T2DM was not significant in T2 (0.71 [0.47-1.07]) but was significant in T3 at (0.47 [0.30-0.75]) (p for trend = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that a OBS could serve as a valuable predictive marker for new-onset T2DM in older adults. Our study suggests that maintaining an appropriate body weight through healthy lifestyle modification has the potential to lower T2DM incidence in elderly. This implies that the OBS may be a useful tool for assessing the incidence of T2DM even in older individuals.

Age-dependent small fiber neuropathy: Mechanistic insights from animal models

Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common and debilitating disease in which the terminals of small diameter sensory axons degenerate, producing sensory loss, and in many patients neuropathic pain. While a substantial number of cases are attributable to diabetes, almost 50% are idiopathic. An underappreciated aspect of the disease is its late onset in most patients. Animal models of human genetic mutations that produce SFN also display age-dependent phenotypes suggesting that aging is an important contributor to the risk of development of the disease. In this review we define how particular sensory neurons are affected in SFN and discuss how aging may drive the disease. We also evaluate how animal models of SFN can define disease mechanisms that will provide insight into early risk detection and suggest novel therapeutic interventions.

The effects of diabetes self-management programs on clinical and patient reported outcomes in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

With diabetes self-management continuing to become more complex for older adults, self-management programs have been shown to support this population in meeting their multifaceted medical needs. Building on our previous systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to update the literature on the effectiveness of diabetes self-management programs and investigate the impact of specific self-management interventions on clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods

We updated our literature search in the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Database of Randomized Controlled Trials from November 2013 to July 2023 for studies that may fit our inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data from the included group of studies.

Results

A total of 17 studies with 21 comparison arms met the inclusion criteria, totalling 5976 older adults (3510 individuals randomized to self-management programming and 2466 to usual care). The pooled effectiveness of diabetes self-management programs in older adults on glycemic control (hemoglobin A1C) was a reduction of -0.32 (95% CI -0.44, -0.19). Specifically, the most effective approach on glycemic control (A1C) was the use of feedback (-0.52%; 95% CI -0.68, -0.36). Overall, self-management programs improved behaviour change outcomes, with feedback interventions being most effective (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.91; 95% CI 0.39, 1.43). The effect of self-management programs on body mass index, weight and lipids were statistically and clinically significant.

Conclusions

The evidence for diabetes self-management programs for older adults demonstrates a small but clinically meaningful reduction in A1C, improvement in patient-reported outcomes (behaviour, self-efficacy, knowledge), and other clinical outcomes (BMI, weight and lipids). The specific strategy used in diabetes self-management programs for older adults should be considered to achieve optimal results on outcomes.

The optimal second-line therapy for older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis using individual participant data (IPD)

BACKGROUND

Due to increasing life expectancy, almost half of people with type 2 diabetes are aged 65 years or over worldwide. When metformin alone does not control blood sugar, the choice of which second-line therapy to prescribe next is not clear from currently available evidence. The existence of frailty and comorbidities in older adults further increases the complexity of medical decision-making. As only a relatively small proportion of trials report results separately for older adults, the relative efficacy and safety of second-line therapies in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus are unknown and require further investigation. This individual participant data (IPD) network meta-analysis evaluates the relative efficacy and safety of second-line therapies on their own or in combination in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

All relevant published and unpublished trials will be identified. Studies published prior to 2015 will be identified from two previous comprehensive aggregate data network meta-analyses. Searches will be conducted in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from 1st January 2015 onwards, and in clinicaltrials.gov from inception. Randomised controlled trials with at least 100 estimated older adults (≥ 65 years) receiving at least 24 weeks of intervention that assess the effects of glucose-lowering drugs on mortality, glycemia, vascular and other comorbidities outcomes, and quality of life will be eligible. The screening and data extraction process will be conducted independently by two researchers. The quality of studies will be assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2. Anonymised IPD of all eligible trials will be requested via clinical trial portals or by contacting the principal investigators or sponsors. Received data will be reanalysed where necessary to standardise outcome metrics. Network meta-analyses will be performed to determine the relative effectiveness of therapies.

DISCUSSION

With the increasing number of older adults with type 2 diabetes worldwide, an IPD network meta-analysis using data from all eligible trials will provide new insights into the optimal choices of second-line antidiabetic drugs to improve patient management and reduce unnecessary adverse events and the subsequent risk of comorbidities in older adults.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021272686.

Diabetes mellitus and hard braking events in older adult drivers

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) can impair driving safety due to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic eye diseases. However, few studies have examined the association between DM and driving safety in older adults based on naturalistic driving data.

METHODS

Data for this study came from a multisite naturalistic driving study of drivers aged 65-79 years at baseline. Driving data for the study participants were recorded by in-vehicle recording devices for up to 44 months. We used multivariable negative binomial modeling to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hard braking events (HBEs, defined as maneuvers with deceleration rates ≥ 0.4 g) associated with DM.

RESULTS

Of the 2856 study participants eligible for this analysis, 482 (16.9%) reported having DM at baseline, including 354 (12.4%) insulin non-users and 128 (4.5%) insulin users. The incidence rates of HBEs per 1000 miles were 1.13 for drivers without DM, 1.15 for drivers with DM not using insulin, and 1.77 for drivers with DM using insulin. Compared to drivers without DM, the risk of HBEs was 48% higher for drivers with DM using insulin (aIRR 1.48; 95% CI: 1.43, 1.53).

CONCLUSION

Older adult drivers with DM using insulin appear to be at increased proneness to vehicular crashes. Driving safety should be taken into consideration in DM care and management.

Aging as a Consequence of the Adaptation-Maladaptation Dilemma

In aging, the organism is unable to counteract certain harmful influences over its lifetime which leads to progressive dysfunction and eventually death, thus delineating aging as one failed process of adaptation to a set of aging stimuli. A central problem in understanding aging is hence to explain why the organism cannot adapt to these aging stimuli. The adaptation-maladaptation theory of aging proposes that in aging adaptation processes such as adaptive transcription, epigenetic remodeling, and metabolic plasticity drive dysfunction themselves over time (maladaptation) and thereby cause aging-related disorders such as cancer and metabolic dysregulation. The central dilemma of aging is thus that the set of adaptation mechanisms that the body uses to deal with internal and external stressors acts as a stressor itself and cannot be effectively counteracted. The only available option for the organism to decrease maladaptation may be a program to progressively reduce the output of adaptive cascades (e.g., via genomic methylation) which then leads to reduced physiological adaptation capacity and syndromes like frailty, immunosenescence, and cognitive decline. The adaptation-maladaptation dilemma of aging entails that certain biological mechanisms can simultaneously protect against aging as well as drive aging. The key to longevity may lie in uncoupling adaptation from maladaptation.

Deintensification of potentially inappropriate medications amongst older frail people with type 2 diabetes: Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial (D-MED study)

AIMS

Amongst elderly people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) over prescribing can result in emergency ambulance call-outs, falls and fractures and increased mortality, particularly in frail patients. Current clinical guidelines, however, remain focused on medication intensification rather than deintensification where appropriate. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an electronic decision-support system and training for the deintensification of potentially inappropriate medications amongst older frail people with T2D, when compared to 'usual' care at 12-months.

METHODS

This study is an open-label, multi-site, two-armed pragmatic cluster-randomised trial. GP practices randomised to the 'enhanced care' group have an electronic decision support system installed and receive training on the tool and de-intensification of diabetes medications. The system flags eligible patients for possible deintensification of diabetes medications, linking the health care professional to a clinical algorithm. The primary outcome will be the number of patients at 12-months who have had potentially inappropriate diabetes medications de-intensified.

RESULTS

Study recruitment commenced in June 2022. Data collection commenced in January 2023. Baseline data have been extracted from 40 practices (3145 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital technology, involving computer decision systems, may have the potential to reduce inappropriate medications and aid the process of de-intensification.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: ISRCTN53221378. Available at: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN53221378.

Mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in elderly diabetes mellitus and a systematic review of its clinical application

Objective: Affected by aging, the elderly diabetes patients have many pathological characteristics different from the young people, including more complications, vascular aging, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. This article will explore their pathogenesis and the mechanism of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention, and use the method of systematic review to evaluate the clinical application of TCM in elderly diabetes. Method: Searching for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to November 2023 in the following databases: Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang and VIP. They were evaluated by three subgroups of Traditional Chinese Prescription, Traditional Chinese patent medicines and Traditional Chinese medicine extracts for their common prescriptions, drugs, adverse reactions and the quality of them. Results and Conclusion: TCM has the advantages of multi-target and synergistic treatment in the treatment of elderly diabetes. However, current clinical researches have shortcomings including the inclusion of age criteria and diagnosis of subjects are unclear, imprecise research design, non-standard intervention measures, and its safety needs further exploration. In the future, the diagnosis of elderly people with diabetes needs to be further clarified. Traditional Chinese patent medicines included in the pharmacopoeia can be used to conduct more rigorous RCTs, and then gradually standardize the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and traditional Chinese medicine extracts, providing higher level evidence for the treatment of elderly diabetes with traditional Chinese medicine.

Global trends in the burden of chronic kidney disease attributable to type 2 diabetes: An age-period-cohort analysis

AIM

To assess temporal trends of chronic kidney disease (CKD) attributable to type 2 diabetes (T2D) globally and in five sociodemographic index (SDI) regions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We extracted the population data and CKD burden attributable to T2D from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We evaluated the trends of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), mortality, prevalence and incidence through age-period-cohort modelling, and calculated net drifts (overall annual percentage changes), local drifts (annual percentage changes in each age group), longitudinal age curves (fitted longitudinal age-specific rates), period relative risks (RRs) and cohort RRs.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the global burden of CKD attributable to T2D showed increasing trends in general. The burden of CKD attributable to T2D was highest in the middle SDI region and lowest in the low SDI region. Age effects increased with age, and peaked at the ages of 75-79 and 80-84 years for incidence and prevalence, respectively. Period RRs in the burden of CKD attributable to T2D increased, with the high SDI being the most remarkable in DALYs and mortality, and the middle SDI being the most notable in incidence. Cohort RRs showed unfavourable trends in incidence and prevalence among recent cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

After a lengthy period of multi-initiative diabetes management, the high-middle SDI region exhibited improvement. However, unresolved issues and improvement gaps were still remarkable. Future efforts to reduce the burden of CKD attributable to T2D in the population should prioritize addressing the unfavourable patterns identified.

Characteristics of elderly diabetes patients: focus on clinical manifestation, pathogenic mechanism, and the role of traditional Chinese medicine

Diabetes mellitus has become a major public health issue globally, putting an enormous burden on global health systems and people. Among all diseased groups, a considerable part of patients are elderly, while their clinical features, pathogenic processes, and medication regimens are different from patients of other ages. Despite the availability of multiple therapies and techniques, there are still numerous elderly diabetes patients suffering from poor blood glucose control, severe complications, and drug adverse effects, which negatively affect the quality of life in their golden years. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of diabetes for several decades, and its relevant clinical practice has confirmed that it has a satisfactory effect on alleviating clinical symptoms and mitigating the progression of complications. Chinese herbal medicine and its active components were used widely with obvious clinical advantages by multiple targets and signaling pathways. However, due to the particular features of elderly diabetes, few studies were conducted to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention on elderly diabetic patients. This study reviews the research on clinical features, pathogenic processes, treatment principles, and TCM treatments, hoping to provide fresh perspectives on the prevention and management strategies for elderly diabetes.

Frequency and Overlap of Cachexia, Malnutrition, and Sarcopenia in Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Study Using AWGC, GLIM, and AWGS2019

This study aimed to estimate the frequency and overlap of cachexia, malnutrition, and sarcopenia in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients who were aged at least 65 years, had diabetes mellitus, and were regularly visiting the Ise Red Cross Hospital on an outpatient basis were included. The patients were assessed to determine whether they had cachexia, malnutrition, and sarcopenia according to the Asian Working Group for Cachexia criteria, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. A total of 510 patients (310 men and 200 women) were analyzed in this study. Sarcopenia, cachexia, and malnutrition were found in 84 patients (16.4%), 40 patients (7.8%) (17.8% among patients with chronic diseases), and 110 patients (21.5%), respectively. Among patients with sarcopenia, the frequencies of cachexia and malnutrition were 30% and 71.4%, respectively. Among patients with cachexia, the frequencies of sarcopenia and malnutrition were 65% and 90%, respectively, and among those with malnutrition, the frequencies of sarcopenia and cachexia were 54% and 32.7%, respectively. The overlap among cachexia, malnutrition, and sarcopenia appears to be an important factor to be considered in the treatment of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

Effect of in-patient cardiac rehabilitation at rehabilitation hospital for cardiology patients: two-center trial

The effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with cardiovascular disease requiring continuous CR from an acute care hospital to a convalescent rehabilitation hospital is unknown. Therefore, we compared the effect of CR in a rehabilitation hospital for patients with cardiovascular disease with that of those who underwent cardiovascular surgery. Sixty-nine consecutive patients were admitted to two rehabilitation hospitals for CR. Patients were classified by primary disease into two groups: patients with cardiovascular disease (cardiology group, 26 patients) and patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery (surgery group, 43 patients). Clinical information, physical function, cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QOL), amount of CR, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Compared with clinical features, age was significantly higher in the cardiology group (P < 0.001), and the preadmission Barthel index was significantly lower in the cardiology group (P = 0.025). Physical function at the time of transfer was significantly lower in the cardiology group than in the surgery group for the short physical performance battery (P < 0.001), gait speed (P = 0.005), and 6-min walking distance (P = 0.042). No significant difference was found in the amount of CR performed or the length of hospital stay, and no interaction effects were observed in improvements in physical function, exercise tolerance, or QOL. In conclusion, in rehabilitation hospitals, patients with cardiovascular disease were older, had lower preadmission ADL, and had lower a physical function at transfer than those who underwent cardiovascular surgery, but CR improved physical function and QOL to the same extent. The results suggest that the recovery of patients with cardiovascular disease may be similar to those who undergo cardiovascular surgery.

Development of the "Social Participation Barriers in Patients With Diabetes" Questionnaire for Older Patients With Diabetes and Evaluation of its Reliability and Validity

Objectives: To develop a questionnaire for evaluating the factors hindering social participation in older patients with diabetes (the Social Participation Barriers in Patients with Diabetes [SPBD] questionnaire) and assess its reliability and validity. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. This study included outpatients aged ≥60 years having diabetes and undergoing treatment at the Ise Redcross Hospital. A draft questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was developed with reference to previous studies. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to test construct validity. Pearson's correlation coefficients between SPBD scores and frailty scores, social frailty scores and frequency of outings were calculated. Results: Overall, 353 patients were included in the analysis. After questions without an association in the logistic regression analysis were excluded and results of the exploratory factor analyses were obtained, 10 questions were excluded. As a result, we created a 10-item SPBD questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .87. The SPBD score was significantly associated with frequency of going out, and frailty. Conclusions: We created an SPBD questionnaire to assess barriers to social participation in older adult patients with diabetes. This study indicated the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.

Diabetes distress as mediators of loneliness and health promotion behaviour: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to explore whether diabetes distress mediated the relationship between loneliness and health promotion in older adults with diabetes.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 140 patients with diabetes (65 years and older, mean age 72.6 years, SD=4.6).

METHODS

We employed path models to analyse data on diabetes distress, loneliness and health promotion behaviours. We collected diabetes distress, loneliness and health promotion behaviour with self-reported questionnaires including the Diabetes Distress Scale, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale and the Elderly Health Promotion Scale from January 2022 to October 2022. Mediation analysis was performed by SPSS V.26.0's PROCESS macro.

RESULT

The findings of this study indicated diabetes distress acted as a mediator between loneliness and health promotion behaviour. According to bootstrapping results, the total effect of loneliness on health promotion behaviour was significantly negative (β=-0.312, p=0.006). Loneliness significantly and negatively correlated with diabetes distress (β=-0.043, p<0.001), while diabetes distress significantly and negatively correlated with health promotion behaviours (β=-2.724, p=0.008). Both the indirect effect and the direct effect of loneliness on health promotion behaviour were significant.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrated that loneliness was negatively associated with health promotion behaviours, and diabetes distress acted as a mediator in this relationship. It is suggested that healthcare providers should prioritise the identification and management of diabetes distress in older patients with diabetes who experience loneliness to improve health promotion behaviours and optimise disease management outcomes.

Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Elderly Koreans with an Initial Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are common among elderly individuals. Growing evidence has indicated a strong link between T2D and NDs, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, previous studies have limitations in exploring the epidemiological relationship among these diseases as a group of NDs rather than as a specific type of ND. We aimed to investigate the risk of NDs in elderly Koreans who were first diagnosed with T2D and determine the association between T2D and NDs. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients with who were initially diagnosed with T2D using the Korean National Health Information Database. The study participants were categorized into a T2D group (n = 155,459) and a control group (n = 155,459), aged 60-84 years, that were matched for age, sex, and comorbidities. We followed the participants for 10 years to investigate the incidence of NDs. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NDs. The numbers of patients diagnosed with ND at the end of follow-up were as follows: 51,096/155,459 (32.9%) in the T2D group and 44,673/155,459 (28.7%) in the control group (χ2 = 622.53, p < 0.001). The incidences of NDs in the T2D and control groups were 44.68 (95% CI: 44.29, 45.07) and 36.89 (95% CI: 36.55, 37.24) cases per 1,000 person-years at risk, respectively. The overall incidence of NDs was higher in the T2D group than that in the control group (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.25, p < 0.001). This study revealed a higher incidence of NDs in elderly Koreans who were initially diagnosed with T2D. This suggests that T2D is a risk factor for NDs in elderly Koreans.

Risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and glycemic management in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological evidence shows a robust relationship between cognitive dysfunction and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study identified major risk factors that might prevent or ameliorate T2DM-associated cognitive dysfunction in the realm of clinical practice.

METHODS

Using Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) in the light of education level, we identified older adults with T2DM on admission aged 50 and above. We conducted this case-control study when eligible participants were divided into Cognitively Normal (CN) group and Cognitively Impaired (CI) group. Analytical data referred to demographic characteristics, clinical features, fluid biomarkers, and scale tests.

RESULTS

Of 596 records screened, 504 cases were included in the final analysis. Modified multivariate logistic regression analysis verified that homocysteine (OR = 2.048, 95%CI = 1.129-3.713), brain infarction (OR = 1.963, 95%CI = 1.197-3.218), dementia (OR = 9.430, 95%CI = 2.113-42.093), education level (OR = 0.605, 95%CI = 0.367-0.997), severity of dependence (OR = 1.996, 95%CI = 1.397-2.851), creatine kinase (OR = 0.514, 95%CI = 0.271-0.974) were significant risk factors of incident T2DM-related cognitive dysfunction in patients of advanced age.

CONCLUSION

Our study supported a robust relationship between T2DM and cognitive dysfunction. Our results provide clinicians with major risk factors for T2DM-related cognitive dysfunction, in particular the protective role of creatine kinase.

Predicting the onset of diabetes-related complications after a diabetes diagnosis with machine learning algorithms

AIMS

Using machine learning algorithms and administrative data, we aimed to predict the risk of being diagnosed with several diabetes-related complications after one-, two- and three-year post-diabetes diagnosis.

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from administrative registers of 610,019 individuals in Catalonia with a diagnosis of diabetes and checked the presence of several complications after diabetes onset from 2013 to 2017: hypertension, renal failure, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke. Four different machine learning (ML) algorithms (logistic regression (LR), Decision tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB)) will be used to assess their prediction performance and to evaluate the prediction accuracy of complications changes over the period considered.

RESULTS

610,019 people with diabetes were included. After three years since diabetes diagnosis, the area under the curve values ranged from 60% (retinopathy) to 69% (congestive heart failure), whereas accuracy rates varied between 60% (retinopathy) to 75% (hypertension). RF was the most relevant technique for hypertension, myocardial and retinopathy, and LR for the rest of the comorbidities. The Shapley additive explanations values showed that age was associated with an elevated risk for all diabetes-related complications except retinopathy. Gender, other comorbidities, co-payment levels and age were the most relevant factors for comorbidity diagnosis prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our ML models allow for the identification of individuals newly diagnosed with diabetes who are at increased risk of developing diabetes-related complications. The prediction performance varied across complications but within acceptable ranges as prediction tools.

Aging, adaptation and maladaptation

Aging is accompanied by a dysregulation of adaptive processes. On the one hand, physiological adaptation mechanisms such as learning and memory, immune system plasticity and exercise-dependent muscle remodeling are blunted. On the other hand, several maladaptive processes increase with age including cancer, pathological cardiovascular remodeling and metabolic dysregulation. With increasing age the quotient of beneficial adaptation (Ab) to harmful adaptation (Ah), Ab/Ah, decreases. The adaptation-maladaptation framework of aging entails that there are age-related pathological phenotypes that are the result of activation of physiological adaptation mechanisms (e.g., maladaptation as a result of misdirection of adaptive cascades and molecular damage incurred by adaptation processes) and their occurrence over time might, to some degree, be inevitable. Aging might hence result from the organism's inability to solve the adaptation-maladaptation dilemma. The present work explores the concept of counteracting aging through adaptation and proposes that interventions such as exercise, environmental enrichment and dietary restriction work in counteracting aging because they increase the ratio Ab/Ah by both raising Ab (e.g., by inducing metaplasticity in cells, meaning they raise the adaptability of cells to future stimuli) and decreasing Ah (e.g., through desensitizing certain potentially harmful adaptive mechanisms). Molecules whose aging-related expression changes can explain aspects of dysfunctional adaptation such as CREB and certain immediate early genes are examined and it is delineated how a better understanding of the dynamical organization of adaptation cascades could elucidate the seemingly complex role of adaptation in driving aging as well as protecting against it.

Prevalence and risk factor of diabetes among the elderly people in West Bengal: evidence-based LASI 1st wave

BACKGROUND

The complication of Diabetes is one of the important health issues among the older adult population in any region. The higher risks of diabetes prevalence among older adult people in the countries was due to social-cultural changes such as increasing urbanization, dietary changes, without physical activity, and unhealthy lifestyle behavior. The present study examines the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes among older adults in the state of West Bengal.

METHODS

The first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India 2017-18 was used to achieve the study objectives. Descriptive statistics with multinomial logistic regression models were used to carry out crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and examine the associated risk factors of diabetes prevalence among older adults.

RESULTS

The findings of the study indicate that the overall prevalence of diabetes among the study participants was found to be 12.4% which was significantly higher in urban areas (19%) compare to rural areas (6%). The socio-economic and bio-demographic factors like educational status, richest background family, marital status, obesity, and family history of diabetes were significantly associated with higher risks of diabetes prevalence among the older adult population in West Bengal. The risks of diabetes in the richest adult people were significantly higher than in the poorest adult people (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.974-3.917). The higher risks of diabetes mellitus among the richest wealthy people are because of lifestyle behavior, smoking, and tobacco consumption respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study needs to policy and awareness program to reduce economic inequality and prevention of diabetes care and treatment-seeking behavior, especially for the older adult population in West Bengal.

Educational Needs for Coaching Judo in Older Adults: The EdJCO Focus Groups

Judo coaches are urged to develop specific competencies and skills for addressing the special needs of older practitioners. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the experts' opinions on judo training in late adulthood to develop sound educational programs for coaches of older judo practitioners. Overall, eighty-eight experts from an international consortium of judo and educational partners participated in national focus groups. During the focus groups, experts discussed five themes and generated statements pertinent to educate coaches to support older judo practitioners (e.g., benefits; necessary knowledge; risks; training groups definition; tools; and tests for monitoring training plans). The initial list of 262 statements was synthesized, validated, analyzed, and organized into a final list of 55 statements and six macro-areas: aging process (n = 10); safety and first aid (n = 6); physiology and fitness (n = 12); psychology and mental health (n = 11); organization and environment (n = 5); adapted judo teaching and training (n = 11). The present international eminence-based study, harmonizing diverse intercultural perspectives, highlighted the specific needs of older judo practitioners. The results of this study will contribute to the structure of a sound educational program for coaches of older judo practitioners to enhance the quality of older adults' sports experiences by linking safety, enjoyment, social interactions, and learning principles.

Prescribing trends of glucose-lowering drugs in older adults from 2010 to 2021: a population-based study of Northern Italy

AIMS

To describe glucose-lowering drugs prescribing pattern in a large population of older diabetics from 2010 to 2021.

METHODS

Using linkable administrative health databases, we included patients aged 65-90 years treated with glucose-lowering drugs. Prevalence rate of drugs was collected within each study year. A stratified analysis by gender, age and coexistence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 251 737 and 308 372 patients were identified in 2010 and 2021, respectively. Use of metformin (68.4% to 76.6%), DPP-4i (1.6% to 18.4%), GLP-1-RA (0.4% to 10.2%), SGLT2i (0.6% to 11.1%) increased, while sulfonylureas (53.6% to 20.7%) and glinides (10.5% to 3.5%) decreased over time. Metformin, glitazones, GLP1-RA, SGLT2i and DPP4i (except for 2021) usage decreased with aging, in contrast to sulfonylureas, glinides and insulin. The coexistence of CVD was associated with a higher prescription of glinides, insulin, DPP-4i, GLP1-RA and SGLT2i, particularly in 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a significant increase in the prescriptions of GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i in older diabetics, mainly in those with CVD. However, drugs without CV benefits including sulfonylureas and DPP-4i continued to be highly prescribed in older patients. There is still room to improve the management in this population according to recommendations.

Projections of future burden of pharmacologically treated type 2 diabetes and associated life expectancies by income in Finland: a multi-state modeling study

The burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) differs between socioeconomic groups. The present study combines ongoing and plausible trends in T2D incidence and survival by income to forecast future trends in cases of T2D and life expectancy with and without T2D up to year 2040. Using Finnish total population data for those aged 30 years on T2D medication and mortality in 1995-2018, we developed and validated a multi-state life table model using age-, gender-, income- and calendar year-specific transition probabilities. We present scenarios based on constant and declining T2D incidence and on the effect of increasing and decreasing obesity on T2D incidence and mortality states up to 2040. With constant T2D incidence at 2019-level, the number of people living with T2D would increase by about 26% between 2020 and 2040. The lowest income group could expect more rapid increases in the number with T2D compared to the highest income group (30% vs. 23% respectively). If the incidence of T2D continues the recent declining trend, we predict about 14% fewer cases. However, if obesity increases two-fold, we predict 15% additional T2D cases. Unless, we reduce the obesity-related excess risk, the number of years lived without T2D could decrease up to 6 years for men in the lowest income group. Under all plausible scenarios, the burden of T2D is set to increase and it will be unequally distributed among socioeconomic groups. An increasing proportion of life expectancy will be spent with T2D.

Prediabetes, diabetes and loss of disability-free survival in a community-based older cohort: a post-hoc analysis of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence for the prognostic implications of hyperglycaemia in older adults is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate disability-free survival (DFS) in older individuals by glycaemic status.

METHODS

This analysis used data from a randomised trial recruiting 19,114 community-based participants aged ≥70 years, who had no prior cardiovascular events, dementia and physical disability. Participants with sufficient information to ascertain their baseline diabetes status were categorised as having normoglycaemia (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] < 5.6 mmol/l, 64%), prediabetes (FPG 5.6 to <7.0 mmol/l, 26%) and diabetes (self-report or FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or use of glucose-lowering agents, 11%). The primary outcome was loss of disability-free survival (DFS), a composite of all-cause mortality, persistent physical disability or dementia. Other outcomes included the three individual components of the DFS loss, as well as cognitive impairment-no dementia (CIND), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and any cardiovascular event. Cox models were used for outcome analyses, with covariate adjustment using inverse-probability weighting.

RESULTS

We included 18,816 participants (median follow-up: 6.9 years). Compared to normoglycaemia, participants with diabetes had greater risks of DFS loss (weighted HR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.21-1.60), all-cause mortality (1.45, 1.23-1.72), persistent physical disability (1.73, 1.35-2.22), CIND (1.22, 1.08-1.38), MACE (1.30, 1.04-1.63) and cardiovascular events (1.25, 1.02-1.54) but not dementia (1.13, 0.87-1.47). The prediabetes group did not have an excess risk for DFS loss (1.02, 0.93-1.12) or other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Among older people, diabetes was associated with reduced DFS, and higher risk of CIND and cardiovascular outcomes, whereas prediabetes was not. The impact of preventing or treating diabetes in this age group deserves closer attention.

Dysregulated carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and risk of atrial fibrillation in advanced old age

OBJECTIVE

Obesity and dysmetabolism are major risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). Fasting and postload levels of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) reflect different facets of metabolic regulation. We sought to study their respective contributions to AF risk concurrently.

METHODS

We assessed levels of fasting and postload glucose and NEFA in the Cardiovascular Health Study to identify associations with AF incidence and, secondarily, with ECG parameters of AF risk available at baseline. Linear and Cox regressions were performed.

RESULTS

The study included 1876 participants (age 77.7±4.4). During the median follow-up of 11.4 years, 717 cases of incident AF occurred. After adjustment for potential confounders, postload glucose showed an association with incident AF (HR per SD increment of postload glucose=1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21, p=0.017). Both glucose measures, but not NEFA, were positively associated with higher P wave terminal force in V1 (PTFV1); the association remained significant only for postload glucose when the two measures were entered together (β per SD increment=138 μV·ms, 95% CI 15 to 260, p=0.028). Exploratory analyses showed significant interaction by sex for fasting NEFA (pinteraction=0.044) and postload glucose (pinteraction=0.015) relative to AF, with relationships stronger in women. For postload glucose, the association with incident AF was observed among women but not among men.

CONCLUSIONS

Among older adults, postload glucose was positively associated with incident AF, with consistent findings for PTFV1. In exploratory analyses, the relationship with AF appeared specific to women. These findings require further study but suggest that interventions to address postprandial dysglycaemia late in life might reduce AF.

Development and validation of risk prediction models for new-onset type 2 diabetes in adults with impaired fasting glucose

AIMS

To develop and validate sex-specific risk prediction models based on easily obtainable clinical data for predicting 5-year risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and generate practical tools for public use.

METHODS

The data used for model training and internal validation came from a large prospective cohort (N = 18,384). Two independent cohorts were used for external validation. A two-step approach was applied to screen variables. Coefficient-based models were constructed by multivariate Cox regression analyses, and score-based models were subsequently generated. The predictive power was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 7.55 years, 5697 new-onset T2D cases were identified. Predictor variables included age, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and fatty liver. The proposed models outperformed five existing models. In internal validation, the AUCs of the coefficient-based models were 0.741 (95% CI 0.723-0.760) for men and 0.762 (95% CI 0.720-0.802) for women. External validation yielded comparable prediction performance. We finally constructed a risk scoring system and a web calculator.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk prediction models and derived tools had well-validated performance to predict the 5-year risk of T2D in IFG adults.

Impact of diabetes on longevity and disability-free life expectancy among older South African adults: A prospective longitudinal analysis

AIMS

We seek to understand the coexisting effects of population aging and a rising burden of diabetes on healthy longevity in South Africa.

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from the 2015 and 2018 waves of the "Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa" (HAALSI) study to explore life expectancy (LE) and disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of adults aged 45 and older with and without diabetes in rural South Africa. We estimated LE and DFLE by diabetes status using Markov-based microsimulation.

RESULTS

We find a clear gradient in remaining LE and DFLE based on diabetes status. At age 45, a man without diabetes could expect to live 7.4 [95% CI 3.4 - 11.7] more years than a man with diabetes, and a woman without diabetes could expect to live 3.9 [95% CI: 0.8 - 6.9] more years than a woman with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes lived proportionately more years subject to disability than individuals without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

We find large and important decrements in disability-free aging for people with diabetes in South Africa. This finding should motivate efforts to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts for diabetes and its complications for older adults in this setting.

Frailty Index was Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Admitted Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

We aimed to investigate the role of the laboratory frailty index (LFI) in diabetic complications and incident disability in admitted older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We retrospectively collected the clinical data of older patients with T2DM from December 2018 to May 2020. Frailty was quantified using the LFI, which considers the accumulation of 27 items of abnormal laboratory outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between LFI and diabetes-related adverse outcomes. In total, 293 consecutive older patients with T2DM were recruited for this study. According to the predefined LFI criteria, 110 (37.5%) participants were non-frail, 131 (44.7%) were prefrail, and 52 (17.8%) were frail. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that LFI was associated with the diabetic microangiopathy complications (odds ratio for prefrail [ORprefrail] 1.760, 95% confidence interval for prefrail [CIprefrail] 1.019-3.041, P = .043; ORfrail 4.667, 95% CIfrail 2.012-10.826, P < .001) and activities of daily living (ADL) disability (ORprefrail 2.323, 95% CIprefrail 1.209-4.463, P = .011; ORfrail 9.367, 95% CIfrail 4.030-21.775, P < .001), but not with the diabetic macroangiopathy complications and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Frailty, as determined by the LFI, was proven to be an effective tool for the prediction of diabetic microangiopathy complications and ADL disability.

Time above range for predicting the development of type 2 diabetes

Aim

To investigate the prognostic value of time range metrics, as measured by continuous glucose monitoring, with respect to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Research design and methods

A total of 499 persons without diabetes from the general population were followed-up for 5 years. Time range metrics were measured at the start and medical records were checked over the period study.

Results

Twenty-two subjects (8.3 per 1,000 person-years) developed T2D. After adjusting for age, gender, family history of diabetes, body mass index and glycated hemoglobin concentration, multivariate analysis revealed 'time above range' (TAR, i.e., with a plasma glucose concentration of >140 mg/dL) to be significantly associated with a greater risk (OR = 1.06, CI 1.01-1.11) of developing diabetes (AUC = 0.94, Brier = 0.035).

Conclusions

Time above range provides additional information to that offered by glycated hemoglobin to identify patients at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a population-based study.

The experiences of insulin use among older people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A thematic synthesis

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is common in older people. Managing diabetes in older people can be challenging due to comorbidities and age-related disabilities, particularly in the context of insulin therapy. The purpose of this review is to explore older people's experiences of insulin use and to consider how these experiences might inform healthcare delivery.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic review with thematic synthesis was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA and ENTREQ statements. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched from 1985 to September 2019 with subsequent updates in December 2019 and June 2022. Included studies were quality appraised, findings tabulated, and results used to inform an integrated thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies that reported insulin experiences with 274 patients aged 60 years and over were included; nine of the studies were qualitative and five used questionnaires surveys. Seven themes emerged that were grouped into treatment-related factors (physical impact of insulin, physical capacity to administer insulin, insulin self-management behaviours) and person-centred factors (emotional factors, social factors, daily living, and personal knowledge/beliefs). Three analytical themes to guide clinical practice were derived from the data: addressing physical capacity and ability, supporting social and emotional issues and improving interactions with healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

The review indicates issues surrounding the technical aspects of insulin administration, side effects of treatment and reactions to insulin administration are common amongst older people. However, research evidence is limited, and there is an urgent need for empirical, participatory research with older insulin dependent adults with type 2 diabetes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Healthcare professionals need to ensure that older type 2 diabetes people on insulin are actively involved in their own care, to allow their insulin regimens to be personalised and aligned with their goals and expectations. Tailored educational interventions to reduce treatment hazards and promote physical and psychological wellbeing are also needed for this population.

Digital algorithm-guided insulin therapy in home healthcare for elderly persons with type 2 diabetes: A proof-of-concept study

GlucoTab@MobileCare, a digital workflow and decision support system with integrated basal and basal-plus insulin algorithm was investigated for user acceptance, safety and efficacy in persons with type 2 diabetes receiving home health care by nurses. During a three months study nine participants (five female, age 77 ± 10 years, HbA1c 60 ± 13 mmol/mol (study start) vs. 57 ± 12 mmol/mol (study end) received basal or basal-plus insulin therapy as suggested by the digital system. In total 95% of all suggested tasks (blood glucose (BG) measurements, insulin dose calculations, insulin injections) were performed according to the digital system. Mean morning BG was 171 ± 68 mg/dL in the first study month vs. 145 ± 35 mg/dL in the last study month, indicating a reduced glycemic variability of 33 mg/dL (standard deviation). No hypoglycemic episode &lt; 54 mg/dL occurred. User’s adherence was high and the digital system supported a safe and effective treatment. Larger scale studies are needed to confirm findings under routine care.

German Clinical Trials Register ID

DRKS00015059

Impact of Older Age Adiposity on Incident Diabetes: A Community-Based Cohort Study in China

BACKGROUND

Obesity classifications vary globally and the impact of older age adiposity on incident diabetes has not been well-studied.

METHODS

We examined a random sample of 2,809 participants aged ≥60 years in China, who were free of diabetes at baseline and were followed up for up to 10 years to document diabetes (n=178). The incidence of diabetes was assessed in relation to different cut-off points of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in multiple adjusted Cox regression models.

RESULTS

The diabetic risk in the cohort increased linearly with the continuous and quartile variables of BMI and WC. The BMI-World Health Organization (WHO) and BMI-China criteria analysis did not show such a linear relationship, however, the BMI-Asian/Hong Kong criteria did; adjusted hazards ratio (HR) was 0.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20 to 0.90) in BMI <20 kg/m2, 1.46 (95% CI, 0.99 to 2.14) in 23-≤26 kg/m2, and 1.63 (95% CI, 1.09 to 2.45) in ≥26 kg/m2. The WC-China criteria revealed a slightly better prediction of diabetes (adjusted HRs were 1.79 [95% CI, 1.21 to 2.66] and 1.87 [95% CI, 1.22 to 2.88] in central obese action levels 1 and 2) than the WC-WHO. The combination of the BMI-Asian/Hong Kong with WC-China demonstrated the strongest prediction. There were no gender differences in the impact of adiposity on diabetes.

CONCLUSION

In older Chinese, BMI-Asian/Hong Kong criteria is a better predictor of diabetes than other BMI criterion. Its combination with WC-China improved the prediction of adiposity to diabetes, which would help manage bodyweight in older age to reduce the risk of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Tight Glucose Control and Poor Pre-Injury Stair Climbing Capacity May Predict Postoperative Delirium: A Secondary Analysis

(1) Background: Previous evidence demonstrates that tight glycemic control and good physical function could reduce the risk of delirium. This study aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD) in older hip fracture surgery patients is associated with preoperative glycemic control factors or pre-injury physical performance. (2) Methods: Three-hundred and nine individuals aged over 65 years and scheduled for hip fracture surgery were included at a single center. Glycemic control factors and pre-injury physical performance were assessed preoperatively. The presence of delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method on postoperative hospitalization days. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models and a risk prediction model of POD were established. (3) Results: Among the 309 patients, 52 (16.83%) experienced POD during the hospital stay. The numbers of pre-injury physical performance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were significantly different in the POD and non-POD groups. The multivariable model showed that development of delirium was significantly explained by preoperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) (OR 0.804, p = 0.004), stair climbing (OR 0.709, p = 0.003), T2DM (odds ratio (OR) 3.654, p = 0.001), and age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) (OR 1.270, p = 0.038). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the risk prediction model including those covariates was 0.770. (4) Conclusions: More older T2DM patients develop POD after hip fracture surgery than patients without T2DM. A simple assessment of preoperative FBG and pre-injury stair climbing capacity may identify those at high risk for the development of POD. Higher preoperative FBG and good pre-injury stair climbing capacity are protective factors for POD.

Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Elderly Patients with Frailty and/or Sarcopenia

The life expectancy of the population is increasing worldwide due to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. This favors a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the elderly. Sarcopenia and frailty are also frequently present in aging. These three entities share common mechanisms such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The coexistence of these situations worsens the prognosis of elderly patients. In this paper, we review the main measures for the prevention and management of sarcopenia and/or frailty in elderly patients with T2DM.

Ageing well with diabetes: A workshop to co-design research recommendations for improving the diabetes care of older people

AIMS

To identify key research questions where answers could improve care for older people living with diabetes (PLWD), and provide detailed recommendations for researchers and research funders on how best to address them.

METHODS

A series of online research workshops were conducted, bringing together a range of PLWD and an acknowledged group of academic and clinical experts in their diabetes care to identify areas for future research. Throughout the pre-workshop phase, during each workshop, and in manuscript preparation and editing, PLWD played an active and dynamic role in discussions as part of both an iterative and narrative process.

RESULTS

The following key questions in this field were identified, and research recommendations for each were developed: How can we improve our understanding of the characteristics of older people living with diabetes (PLWD) and their outcomes, and can this deliver better person-centred care? How are services to care for older PLWD currently delivered, both for their diabetes and other conditions? How can we optimise and streamline the process and ensure everyone gets the best care, tailored to their individual needs? What tools might be used to evaluate the level of understanding of diabetes in the older population amongst non-specialist Healthcare Professionals (HCPs)? How can virtual experts or centres most effectively provide access to specialist multi-disciplinary team (MDT) expertise for older PLWD and the HCPs caring for them? Is a combination of exercise and a nutrition-dense, high protein diet effective in the prevention of the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes and deterioration in frailty, and how might this be delivered in a way which is acceptable to people with type 2 diabetes? How might we best use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in older people and, for those who require support, how should the data be shared? How can older PLWD be better empowered to manage their diabetes in their own home, particularly when living with additional long-term conditions? What are the benefits of models of peer support for older PLWD, both when living independently and when in care?

CONCLUSIONS

This paper outlines recommendations supported by PLWD through which new research could improve their diabetes care and calls on the research community and funders to address them in future research programmes and strategies.

Update on the management of diabetes in long-term care facilities

The number of patients with diabetes is increasing among older adults in the USA, and it is expected to reach 26.7 million by 2050. In parallel, the percentage of older patients with diabetes in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) will also rise. Currently, the majority of LTCF residents are older adults and one-third of them have diabetes. Management of diabetes in LTCF is challenging due to multiple comorbidities and altered nutrition. Few randomized clinical trials have been conducted to determine optimal treatment for diabetes management in older adults in LTCF. The geriatric populations are at risk of hypoglycemia since the majority are treated with insulin and have different levels of functionality and nutritional needs. Effective approaches to avoid hypoglycemia should be implemented in these settings to improve outcome and reduce the economic burden. Newer medication classes might carry less risk of developing hypoglycemia along with the appropriate use of technology, such as the use of continuous glucose monitoring. Practical clinical guidelines for diabetes management including recommendations for prevention and treatment of hypoglycemia are needed to appropriately implement resources in the transition of care plans in this vulnerable population.

Educational programs in type 2 diabetes designed for community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review

AIMS

This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions in type 2 diabetes specifically designed for community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of studies published between 2010 and 2021 was conducted across five electronic databases and manual sources. The study protocol was previously registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021288236).

RESULTS

Twelve papers matched the inclusion criteria and were appraised using MERSQI. The features of the educational programs were heterogeneous, and none complied with the ten suggested standards for diabetes self-management education and support. Comprehensive gerontological assessment was not considered. Outcomes included biomedical, psychosocial, behavioral, and knowledge measures. HbA1c and knowledge showed improvements with a high certainty level according to GRADE.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured DSME programs aimed at older adults have great potential, however there is still room to improve. Applying the principles of a comprehensive gerontological approach and the standards for DSME as continuous monitoring and support could increase their benefits.

SEE-Diabetes, a patient-centered diabetes self-management education and support for older adults: Findings and information needs from patients' perspectives

AIMS

This study identified the information needs of people with diabetes aged 65 and older through surveys and focus groups to inform the development of a patient-centered educational decision aid for diabetes care, SEE-Diabetes (Support-Engage-Empower-Diabetes).

METHODS

We conducted survey (N = 37) and three focus groups (N = 9). The survey collected demographics, diabetes duration, insulin usage, and clinic notes accessibility through a patient portal. In focus groups, participants evaluated the Assessment and Plan section of three selected deidentified clinic notes to assess readability and helpfulness for diabetes care.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 66 (24-82, SD = 12), and 22 were female (60%). The mean diabetes duration was 20.9 years (1-63, SD=15). Most participants (80%) read their clinical notes via patient portal. In the focus groups, the readability of clinic notes was noted as a primary concern because of medical abbreviations and poor formatting. Participants found the helpfulness of clinic notes was negatively impacted by vague or insufficient self-care information.

CONCLUSIONS

We found the high use of patient portal for reading clinic notes, which offers a use case opportunity for the proposed SEE-Diabetes educational aid. Feedback about the readability and helpfulness of clinic notes will be considered during the design process.

Physiological Systems in Promoting Frailty

Frailty is a complex syndrome affecting a growing sector of the global population as medical developments have advanced human mortality rates across the world. Our current understanding of frailty is derived from studies conducted in the laboratory as well as the clinic, which have generated largely phenotypic information. Far fewer studies have uncovered biological underpinnings driving the onset and progression of frailty, but the stage is set to advance the field with preclinical and clinical assessment tools, multiomics approaches together with physiological and biochemical methodologies. In this article, we provide comprehensive coverage of topics regarding frailty assessment, preclinical models, interventions, and challenges as well as clinical frameworks and prevalence. We also identify central biological mechanisms that may be at play including mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, and oxidative stress that in turn, affect metabolism, stress responses, and endocrine and neuromuscular systems. We review the role of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and visceral obesity, focusing on glucose homeostasis, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺ ) as critical players influencing the age-related loss of health. We further focus on how immunometabolic dysfunction associates with oxidative stress in promoting sarcopenia, a key contributor to slowness, weakness, and fatigue. We explore the biological mechanisms involved in stem cell exhaustion that affect regeneration and may contribute to the frailty-associated decline in resilience and adaptation to stress. Together, an overview of the interplay of aging biology with genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that contribute to frailty, as well as potential therapeutic targets to lower risk and slow the progression of ongoing disease is covered. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-46, 2022.

Metabolic phenotypes explain the relationship between dysglycaemia and frailty in older people with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Dysglycaemia (hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia) increase the risk of frailty in older people with diabetes, which appears contradictory. However, the characteristics of patients included in these studies are different and may reflect different metabolic phenotypes of frailty that may explain this apparent contradiction.

AIMS

To review the characteristics of frail patients included in clinical studies that reported an association between dysglycaemia and frailty in order to explore whether there is any metabolic differences in the profile of these patients.

METHODS

A systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. Key words around older people, type 2 diabetes mellitus, frailty, hyperglycaemia and low glycaemia were used in the literature search.

RESULTS

Only 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies investigated the risk of frailty associated with low glycaemia. Two studies showed that hypoglycaemia increased the risk of frailty by 44% (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.42) and predicted greater level of dependency (p < 0.001), respectively. The other two studies reported that HbA1c inversely correlated with clinical frailty scale (r = -0.31, p < 0.01) and HbA1c < 6.0% was associated with increased risk of disability (3.45, 1.02 to 11.6), respectively. Compared with non-frail patients, those with frailty tended to have lower body weight or body mass index (BMI), have features of malnutrition such as low serum albumin or low total cholesterol and suffer from more comorbidities including dementia. Four studies explored the association of high glycaemia with frailty. Higher HbA1c predicted frailty (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.045 to 1.97) and positively correlated with Edmonton frail score (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), respectively in two studies. The other two studies found that subjects with HbA1c ≥ 6.5% had the greatest prevalence of frailty (70.3%) and subjects with higher HbA1c at baseline to have a higher frailty level throughout later life, respectively. Compared with non-frail patients, those with frailty tended to have higher body weight, waist circumference and BMI. They also have less physical activity, higher cholesterol level and have more comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysglycaemia increases the risk of frailty but the characteristics of patients in these studies suggest different metabolic phenotypes of frailty. Therefore, these metabolic differences in frailty should be taken into consideration in the management of older people with diabetes.

Risk of progression to diabetes and mortality in older people with prediabetes: The English longitudinal study on ageing

AIMS

Prediabetes is used to identify people at increased risk for diabetes. However, the importance of prediabetes in older populations is still poorly explored. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of prediabetes, based on either glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels or fasting glucose (FG) levels, or both and the progression of prediabetes to diabetes or to mortality in older participants of the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prediabetes was categorized based on HbA1c levels (5.7%-6.4%) and/or FG levels (5.6-7.0 mmol/L). Information regarding mortality and incident diabetes were recorded during follow-up period of 10 years.

RESULTS

In 2027 participants (mean age: 70.6 years, 55.2% females), the prevalence of prediabetes ranged between 5.9% and 31.1%. Over 8 years of follow-up, 189 participants (5.4% of the initial population) developed diabetes and 606 (17.4%) died. Among 1,403 people with HbA1c at the baseline <5.7%, 33 developed diabetes and 138 died; in contrast, among 479 participants with a diagnosis of prediabetes using a value of HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%, 62 developed diabetes and 56 died. Similarly, among 1,657 people with normal values of FG at baseline 60 had a diagnosis of diabetes during follow-up and 163 died, compared to 225 with FG between 5.6 mmol/L and 7.0 mmol/L in which 35 developed diabetes and 31 died.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of prediabetes in older adults is high, but the progression from prediabetes to diabetes is uncommon, whereas the regression to normoglycemia or the progression to death was more frequent.

Associations of Daily Steps and Step Intensity With Incident Diabetes in a Prospective Cohort Study of Older Women: The OPACH Study

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim was to assess associations between total steps per day and incident diabetes, whereas the secondary aim was to assess whether the intensity and/or cadence of steps is associated with incident diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Women without physician-diagnosed diabetes (n = 4,838; mean [SD] age 78.9 [6.7] years) were followed up to 6.9 years; 395 developed diabetes. Hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers worn for 1 week enabled measures of total, light-intensity, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity (MV-intensity) steps per day. Using Cox proportional hazards analysis we modeled adjusted change in the hazard rate for incident diabetes associated with total, light-intensity, and MV-intensity steps per day. We further estimated the proportion of the steps-diabetes association mediated by BMI.

RESULTS

On average, participants took 3,729 (SD 2,114) steps/day, of which 1,875 (791) were light-intensity steps and 1,854 ± 1,762 were MV-intensity. More steps per day were associated with a lower hazard rate for incident diabetes. Confounder-adjusted models for a 2,000 steps/day increment yielded hazard ratio (HR) 0.88 (95% CI 0.78-1.00; P = 0.046). After further adjustment for BMI, HR was 0.90 (95% CI 0.80-1.02; P = 0.11). BMI did not significantly mediate the steps-diabetes association (proportion mediated = 17.7% [95% CI -55.0 to 142.0]; P = 0.09]). The relationship between MV-intensity steps per day (HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.74-1.00]; P = 0.04) and incident diabetes was stronger than for light-intensity steps per day (HR 0.97 [95% CI 0.73-1.29]; P = 0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that for older adults, more steps per day are associated with lower incident diabetes and MV-intensity steps are most strongly associated with a lower hazard of diabetes. This evidence supports that regular stepping is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes prevention in older adults.

Social Participation Benefit in Elderly Patients With Diabetes: A Scoping Review

Aims: To conduct a scoping review on the proportion of social participation in elderly patients with diabetes and related factors to clarify what is known and what needs to be addressed in the future. Methods: Literature searches were conducted using MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, CiNii, and Ichu-shi. Articles that surveyed social participation in elderly patients with diabetes were included. Social participation was defined as participation in community activities/groups (exercise, sports, hobbies, volunteer activities, neighborhood associations, senior citizens associations, and political and religious organizations). Results: The mean age of the subjects was 67 years, and 42% were women. The percentage of social participation was 13%–36%. Moreover, factors contributing to social participation included self-management of treatment, lifestyle, mobility, subjective assessment of health, and quality of life. Conclusion: This study showed the percentage of social participation in elderly patients with diabetes and related factors. Further study is required to evaluate the causal relationship, the mechanism between social participation and contributing factors, the relationship between social participation and other outcomes, and several stratified analyses in elderly patients with diabetes.

Social Isolation of Older Adults With Diabetes

We aimed to conduct a scoping review of social isolation in elderly patients with diabetes and to clarify current knowledge and gaps and future challenges. A literature search was conducted using Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, CiNii, and Ichushi, and included studies with an eligibility criterion of a survey of social isolation in elderly patients with diabetes and aged ≥60 years. Social isolation was defined as limited or non-face-to-face contact with family and community. A data extraction form describing characteristics of studies incorporated in the present review was prepared. A total of six studies met eligibility criterion (sample size, 451–3,500). Subjects’ age averaged 67 years, and 42% were female. Social isolation ranged from 9% to 49%. Factors related to social isolation included vascular complications,decreased activities of daily living, death, dementia, glycemic fluctuation, disturbance of lifestyle habits, and poor self-management and -rated health. However, research on the cause and mechanism of the relationship and impact of sex-based differences was lacking. In conclusion, additional research is needed on the definition of social isolation in elderly patients with diabetes, the causal relationship with related factors and their mechanisms, and the relationship with other outcomes.

Predictors of Transition to Frailty in Middle-Aged and Older People With HIV: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

People with HIV (PWH) have increased frailty risk at younger ages compared with the general population. Multimorbidity is associated with frailty, yet effects of specific comorbidities on transition to frailty in PWH are unknown.

SETTING

Prospective study of 219 PWH age 45 years or older in the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium.

METHODS

Frailty status was categorized using Fried frailty phenotype criteria. Comorbidities [bone disease, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, liver disease, renal disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, obesity, cancers, neuropsychiatric conditions] were assessed from longitudinal data. Associations between baseline comorbidities and transition to frailty within 30 months were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models. Grip strength was assessed using mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

At baseline, the median age was 61 years, 73% were male 98% were on antiretroviral therapy, 29% had ≥3 comorbidities, 27% were robust, and 73% were pre-frail. Cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and COPD were independent predictors of transition to frailty within 30 months in models adjusted for age, sex, and multimorbidity (≥3 additional comorbidities) [hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) 2.52 (1.29 to 4.93), 2.31 (1.12 to 4.76), and 1.82 (0.95 to 3.48), respectively]. Furthermore, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, COPD, or liver disease co-occurring with multimorbidity was associated with substantially increased frailty hazards compared with multimorbidity alone (hazard ratios 4.75-7.46). Cerebrovascular disease was associated with decreased baseline grip strength (P = 0.0001), whereas multimorbidity, diabetes, and COPD were associated with declining grip strength (P < 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

In older PWH, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, COPD, or liver disease co-occurring with multimorbidity is associated with substantially increased risk of becoming frail within 30 months. Interventions targeting these comorbidities may ameliorate frailty and age-related functional decline in PWH.

Optimal Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management and Active Ageing

Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a chronic condition with increasing prevalence worldwide among the older population. The T2DM condition increases the risk of micro and macrovascular complications as well as the risk of geriatric syndromes such as falls, fractures and cognitive impairment. The management of T2DM in the older population represents a challenge for the clinician, and a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment should always be prioritized, in order to tailor the glycated hemoglobin target according to functional and cognitive status comorbidities, life expectancy and type of therapy. According to the most recent guidelines, older adults with T2DM should be categorized into three groups: healthy patients with good functional status, patients with complications and reduced functionality and patients at the end of life; for each group the target for glycemic control is different, also according to the type of treatment drug. The therapeutic approach should always begin with lifestyle changes; after that, several lines of therapy are available, with different mechanisms of action and potential effects other than glucose level reduction. Particular interest is growing in sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, due to their effect on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we evaluate the therapeutic options available for the treatment of older diabetic patients, to ensure a correct treatment approach.

[Risk factors associated with emergency service re-visits in frailty diabetic patients who consult for hypoglycaemia]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Emergency department (ED) visits due to hypoglycaemia are frequent in elderly patients. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the risk factors associated to ED re-visits at 90days in elderly patients who visited ED with an episode of hypoglycaemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective observational study was designed, including elderly diabetic patients (>65years) attended in a fragility area of an ED for an episode of hypoglycaemia. To evaluate the risk factors associated to ED re-visits at 90days a multivariate analysis with logistic regression was performed, including those variables related to comorbidity and antidiabetic treatment with a P<0.2 in a previous univariate analysis.

RESULTS

106 patients were included. %HbA1c value was available in 87 (82.1%) patients. Ten (11.5%) patients presented a value of HbA1c ≤5.5%. Antidiabetic treatment was changed to 63 (59.4%) patients at discharge. Thirty-eight (36.1%) patients re-visited the ED at 90days, 9 for glycaemic alterations. The risk factors associated to 90days ED re-visit were: being man (OR: 3.62 [95%CI: 1.24-10.51)), treatment modified at discharge (OR: 0.31 [0.11-0.91]) and to present an HbA1c value ≤5.5% (OR: 5.33 [1.16-14.51]).

CONCLUSIONS

Fragile patients with diabetes who visit ED for hypoglycaemia present, in high frequency, HbA1c values lower than those recommended, being associated to an increase of ED re-visit risk at 90days.

Association Between Relative Quadriceps Strength and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults: The Yangpyeong Cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

BACKGROUND

To examine the independent and combined association between relative quadriceps strength and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in older adults.

METHODS

Among 1441 Korean older adults aged ≥65 years (71 [4.7] y) recruited between 2007 and 2016, 1055 older adults with no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cancer were included in the analysis. Cases of T2DM were identified by self-reported physician diagnosis, use antihyperglycemic medication or insulin, or fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of T2DM by quartiles of relative quadriceps strength.

RESULTS

There were 162 T2DM cases (15%). Compared with the lowest quartile (weakest), the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of T2DM were 0.56 (0.34-0.90), 0.60 (0.37-0.96), and 0.47 (0.28-0.80) in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders, including body mass index. In the joint analysis, compared with the "weak and overweight/obese" group, the odds (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]) of T2DM was only lower in the "strong and normal weight" group (0.36 [0.22-0.60]) after adjusting for possible confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater relative quadriceps strength is associated with reduced odds of T2DM in older adults after adjusting for potential confounders including body mass index.