Abstract

ALMANZA, Oliver et al. Frequency of factors associated to hypoglycemia in elder patients with diabetes admitted to the emergency room of a national hospital. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2017, vol.28, n.2, pp.93-100. ISSN 1018-130X.  http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.20453/rmh.v28i2.3109.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of factors associated with hypoglycemia in elder patients admitted to the emergency room of a national hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study of elder patients with diabetes admitted to the emergency room of Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza from January to February 2015. Information on age, gender, comorbidities, concomitant medications, laboratory examinations (urea, creatinine, transaminases, serum albumin, HbA1c), scores to evaluate functional, cognitive, social, affective and nutritional levels by using Barthel, Pfeiffer, Guijon, Yesavage and MNA scales. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using SPPS 9.0. Results: 52 patients were evaluated; 42.3% were males; mean age was 70 years; mean serum glucose at admission was 32, 23 mg/dl; 46% had HbA1c values with a mean of 6.76%. Factors associated with hypoglycemia were functional dependence (94.2%); comorbidities (78.8%); cognitive deterioration (65.3%); risk of depression (61.5%); risk of malnutrition (56.9%); risk of social problems (57.7%) and use of multiple medications (51%). Conclusions: Elder patients admitted with hypoglycemia have multiple associated factors such as cognitive alterations, functional dependence, depression, malnutrition, comorbidities, use multiple medications and have social problems. HbA1c values were low in comparison to internationally accepted values for elder patients.

Keywords : Hypoglycemia; diabetes; older adult.

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