Diabetes Mellitus in Centenarians

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Describe prevalence of diabetes mellitus among centenarians. DESIGN Cross-sectional, population-based. SETTING 44 counties in northern Georgia. PARTICIPANTS 244 centenarians (aged 98-108, 15.8% men, 20.5% African-American, 38.0% community-dwelling) from the Georgia Centenarian Study (2001-2009). MEASUREMENTS Nonfasting blood samples assessed HbA1c and relevant clinical parameters. Demographic, diagnosis, and diabetes complications covariates were assessed. RESULTS 12.5% of centenarians were known to have diabetes. Diabetes was more prevalent among African-Americans (27.7%) than Whites (8.6%, p=.0002). There were no differences between men (16.7%) and women (11.7%, p=.414), centenarians living in the community (10.2%) or facilities (13.9%, p=.540). Diabetes was more prevalent among overweight/obese (23.1%) than non-overweight (7.1%, p=.002) centenarians. Anemia (78.6% versus 48.3%, p=.004) and hypertension (79.3% versus 58.6%, p=.041) were more prevalent among centenarians with diabetes than without and centenarians with diabetes took more nonhypoglycemic medications(8.6 versus 7.0, p=.023). No centenarians with hemoglobin A1c < 6.5% had random serum glucose levels above 200 mg/dl. Diabetes was not associated with 12 month all-cause mortality, visual impairment, amputations, cardiovascular disease or neuropathy. 37% of centenarians reported onset before age 80 (survivors), 47% between 80 and 97 years (delayers) and 15% age 98 or older (escapers). CONCLUSION Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality, but is seen in persons who live into very old age. Aside from higher rates of anemia and use of more medications, few clinical correlates of diabetes were observed in centenarians.

Longitudinal and cross-sectional changes with age in selected anthropometric and physiological traits in hospitalized adults: an insight from the Polish Longitudinal Study of Aging (PLSA)

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Differences in Health at Age 100 According to Sex: Population‐Based Cohort Study of Centenarians Using Electronic Health Records

“…This limits their generalization to more‐diverse centenarian populations . Estimates of the prevalence of common morbidities among centenarians vary greatly, with the prevalence of dementia estimated to range from 27% to 89%, congestive heart failure from 27% to 60%, and diabetes mellitus from 1% to 12% …”

A Study of Metabolic Health in Very Old Individuals Residing in Central Arkansas

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