Higher prevalence and earlier appearance of geriatric phenotypes in old adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Aims To compare the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, depression, lower mobility performance, disability and falls in older community-dwelling individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in controls of similar age. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in primary health care settings in 3 semi-urban regions in Greece. Were assessed 403 community-dwelling older persons (age ≥65 years, median: 73), 198 with and 205 without diabetes. Common geriatric syndromes were studied using structured individual interviews and widely-used screening scales. An ensuing secondary analysis per age group was performed. Results After adjusting for several confounding factors, the diabetes group presented a 2-fold greater odds of having abnormal scores in Mini Mental State Examination (95%CI: 1.2–3.4, p = 0.006), a 1.5-fold greater odds of abnormal performance in the Clock Drawing Test (95%CI: 1.0–2.4, p = 0.05) and a 2-fold greater odds of slower performance in Timed-Up-And-Go test (95%CI: 1.1–3.4, p = 0.022). In the analysis per age group, impaired cognitive and mobility performances were observed in individuals with diabetes of the younger subgroup (65–74 years), while in the older subgroup (≥75 years), those differences disappeared. Conclusions In a community-dwelling population aged ≥65 years, cognitive and physical fragilisation is more frequent and is observed at an earlier age in individuals with T2DM than in those without.