Clinical, Epidemiological and Therapeutic Aspects in Elderly Congolese Diabetics

Background: The global growth in the number of elderly people is associated to the increasing of CVD and their complications. The Congolese population is predominantly young, with predominance of diabetes between 40 and 60 years of age. This study highlights the particularities of diabetes in elderly congolese diabetics. Aim of the study: To describe clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of elderly Congolese diabetics. Method: Retrospective study based on the analysis of the records of patients aged 65 and above admitted from 2010 to 2016 to Adolphe Sicé General Hospital. The studied parameters are: sociodemographic, duration of diabetes, CVRF, complications, glycaemia, HbA1c, treatment and evolution. The analysis was done by Epi info 7.2.1.0, using Student's and Chi-2 tests with p < 0.05 significant. Results: A total of 2816 patients were admitted, among them 326 patients (8.64%) were aged 65 and above. 53.70% women and 46.30% men, the mean age was 72.77±5.83. Sex ratio is 0.8. Mean duration of diabetes was 5.7 years. 60.00% were known diabetics, with mean duration of 9.5 years and 40.00% were newly diagnosed. T2DM represents 98.00%. Hypertension was found in 63.50% of patients and metabolic syndrome (30%). Macro and microvascular complications: stroke (24.54%), PAD (21.00%), neuropathy (51.00%) and nephropathy (42.40%). Hyperosmolar coma represented 20.20% of acute complications, hypoglycemia (7.36%). Mean glycaemia was 3.44±1.25 g/l and HbA1c 9.94±3.54. Mortality was 8.00%. Conclusion: This study shows that diabetes in the elderly Congolese subject is not rare. Its association with CVRF is frequent, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications.