Age and glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes in the United States: An assessment from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014

Abstract

Aim: To assess the age and its association with glycemic control (GC) among adults with type 2-diabetes in the United States.

Materials and materials: Data were collected from the National Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 (n = 697), cross-sectional national survey adults with Type2 diabetes. Characteristics included retinopathy diagnosis, blood pressure, albumin-creatinine ratio, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), BMI, cholesterol, smoking status, pills/insulin, exercise, age, age at diagnosis, education, sex, race, and marital status. Diabetes preventive behaviors were included. Predictors of GC were assessed using logistic regression.

Results: The mean age was 61 (SD ±13); the average age at diagnosis 50 (SD ±12.9) and women (51%). Age ≥60, diabetes length >10yrs, taking pills/on insulin, albumin-creatinine ratio ≤30mg/g, optimal BP, no retinopathy diagnosis, optimal cholesterol, seeing a doctor for diabetes, doctors checkup ≥2 times and checking HbA1c annually were significant predictors of GC. The association between GC and age (OR=.97, p<.001; CI: .96-.98) diabetes length >10yrs (OR=1.55, p<.05; CI: 1.02-2.34), creatinine-albumin ratio ≤30mg/g (OR=1.97, p<.001; CI: 1.32-2.94) and checking HbA1c annually (OR=1.86, p<.01; CI: 1.16-3.00) remained significant after adjustment for the effects of all other statistically significant covariates.

Conclusions: GC was prevalent among older individuals; suggestive of intervention programs for young adults with diabetes and continuous HbA1c assessment at least annually.

Keywords: Diabetes complications prevention; Glycemic control; Type-2 diabetes.