BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the associations of age with the presence of complications and glycemic control in the Northwest of Iran.MethodsA total of 649 people with diabetes who were >25 years old and had a caring record in diabetes clinics in two Northwestern provinces of Iran during 2014–15, were recruited in this cross-sectional study. General information including demographic, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors were collected by trained interviewers. Clinical information was retrieved from clinic's record. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess the predictors of diabetes outcome of interest as well as to clarify the role of age in relation to these outcomes.ResultsCompared to the age group of ≤49, the middle age group (50–59) and the older age group (60 years of age and older) were less likely to report poor glycemic control (OR fully adjusted = 0.49 95% CI: 0.28–0.86 and (OR = 0.44 95% CI: 0.24–0.80), respectively. Additionally, poor glycemic control was associated with income level, disease duration, hypercholesterolemia, high level of LDL and hypertension. In contrast, age was associated with the highest percentage of complications. People with duration of >7 years of disease record were 6 times more likely to have complications (ORadj = 5.98 95% CI: 2.35–15.22).ConclusionAlthough the prevalence of complications was higher among the older diabetic patients, they had a better glycemic control. The influential factors were variably associated with the two diabetes-related outcomes; therefore, a more comprehensive risk profiles assessment is needed for glycemic control.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12902-017-0175-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

AIMTo investigate the quality of life (QOL) and its clinical and epidemiological correlates among people with type 2 diabetes.METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Tabriz, Northwest of Iran, including a total of 394 people with type 2 diabetes using convenient sampling method from November 2014 to March 2015. General information including demographic, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors were collected by trained interviewers. Clinical information was retrieved from clinic’s record and QOL was assessed using the 26-item WHOQOL-BRIFE questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were performed to assess the related factors and QOL dimensions.RESULTSThe mean of overall health related QOL was 52.11 ± 11.53 and the maximum and minimum dimensions were respectively seen in psychological (60.38 ± 14.54) and social (38.32 ± 16.94) dimensions. The results of multiple linear regression showed a significant overall relationship between HRQOL and age (b = -1.48%, 95%CI: -0.03 and -2.93) level of education (b = 4.12%, 95%CI: 2.73 and 5.5), number of comorbidities (b = -2.41%, 95%CI: -3.89 and -9.41), and level of income (b = 1.98, 95%CI: 0.05 and 3.9), functional limitation (b = -3.59, 95%CI: -2.26 and -4.92) and psychological distress (b = -2.02%, 95%CI: -2.83 and -1.21). Level of education, functional limitation, psychological distress were associated with the score of physical, mental and environmental dimensions, and number of comorbidities was associated with the score of physical and mental dimensions.CONCLUSIONBased on our findings, lifestyle modification and increasing facilities of clinics providing service can be effective steps to improve the QOL among people with type 2 diabetes.