Reasons For Hospitalization Of Type 2 Diabetes In The Elderly

ObjectiveTo investigate the reasons for hospitalization of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly, in order to learn more about the clinical characteristics of senior diabetic patients. MethodsThe reasons for hospitalization of the senior patients with type 2 diabetes were analyzed base on their chief complains and main significant diagnosis, using data from a retrospective study involving 695 patients from the First affiliated hospital of ZheJiang University during the year of 2004-2006. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS13.0 software. ResultsThere were 359 male and 339 female cases, with an average age of 71.1, average duration of disease: 9.75 years, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR): 0.92 dr 0.10, body mass index (BMI): 23.49 ± 3.35 KG/m~2, hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc): 7.94 ± 2.67%, fasting blood glucose (the first time after admission): 8.62 dr 3.89mmol/L, postprandial glucose (the first time after admission): 15.07 d: 5.66mmol/L, fasting blood glucose (the last time): 8.62 ± 3.89mmol/L, postprandial glucose (the last time): 10.63 ± 3.06mmol/L. The prevalence of hypertension in admitted diabetic patients was 63.9% (444 cases), hyperlipemia 36.4%, macrovascular complication more than 50%, diabetic nephropathy about 38% and diabetic retinopathy about 40%.Among all the reasons for hospitalization, the first four predominant causes were chronic diabetic complications (217cases), hyperglycemia (175cases), infections (105cases), cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(61 cases), accounted for 31.2%, 25.2%, 15.1% and 8.8% respectively. The constituent ratio of hypoglycemia was 3% (21cases), diabetic foot 1.9% (13 cases), acute diabetic complications 2.2%, cancer or tumor 2.2 % and the other reasons 10.5 % (73 cases, including patients with degeneration diseases and preoperative admission and so on). There were statistical differences between male and female in the constituent ratio of admission causes (P<0.05). There were more significant differences between the newly diagnosed patients and the further-consultation group (P<0.001) , and also between the two groups with different diagnostic age whether less than 60 or not (P<0.001) . Conclusions1. The most common reasons for hospitalization of senior patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were chronic diabetic complications, hyperglycemia, infections, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.2. There were statistical differences between male and female in the constitution of the admission causes, and also between the two groups with different diagnostic age whether less than 60 or not. The result was consistent among the newly diagnosed patients and the further-consultation group.