Prevalence and predictors of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension in community‐dwelling older adults

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international 2018-09, Vol.18 (9), p.1356-1360
• Main Authors: Sims, Omar T., Oh, Hyejung, Noh, Hyunjin, Melton, Pamela A., Sheffield, Samantha, Ingram, Kacey, Sawyer, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Americans; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alabama; Analysis of Variance; Body Mass Index; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Confidence Intervals; Databases, Factual; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - epidemiology; Independent Living; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - epidemiology; Odds Ratio; older adults; Older people; Predictive Value of Tests; predictors; Prevalence; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13489

Aim The objectives of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension among older adults, examine predictors of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension, and ascertain whether predictors varied by race. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out using a statewide survey of Alabama community‐dwelling older adults (n = 1204). Measures of central tendency and frequency distributions were used for univariate analysis. Logistic regression was used to predict co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension. Results The prevalence of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension among older adults was 17%. African American race (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.596–3.255), body mass index ≥30 (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.732–3.463), heart disease (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.355–2.756) and eye disease (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.018–2.024) were associated positively with co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension. Conclusions The prevalence of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension among older adults was alarmingly high. The notable difference in the likelihood of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension is representative of a racial health disparity that largely disfavors African American older adults. Findings from the present study highlight a need for identification of older adults who have and who are at risk of co‐occurring diabetes and hypertension in the general population and in clinical settings, and the development and implementation of suitable interventions, particularly targeting older African American adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1356–1360.