Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and also anemia are common in the elderly and have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes of patients. The coexistence of anemia and DM seems to be insufficiently recognized; therefore, the aim of our study is to analyze the incidence and clinical consequences of this coex...

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Main Authors: S. S. Michalak, E. Wolny-Rokicka, E. Nowakowska, M. Michalak, L. Gil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Diabetes Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8745968
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author S. S. Michalak
E. Wolny-Rokicka
E. Nowakowska
M. Michalak
L. Gil
author_facet S. S. Michalak
E. Wolny-Rokicka
E. Nowakowska
M. Michalak
L. Gil
author_sort S. S. Michalak
collection DOAJ
description Diabetes mellitus (DM) and also anemia are common in the elderly and have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes of patients. The coexistence of anemia and DM seems to be insufficiently recognized; therefore, the aim of our study is to analyze the incidence and clinical consequences of this coexistence, including mortality, in the population of people aged ≥60. A retrospective study was conducted on 981 primary care clinic patients aged ≥60 during 2013-2014. The prevalence of coexistence of DM and anemia (defined in accordance with WHO) and data on the incidence of comorbidities, hospitalization, medical procedures, and all-cause mortality were analyzed. In the study population, 25% had DM, while 5.4% had both DM and anemia. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) was found in 48 patients (4.89%) of the entire study population, more often in men (p<0.001). Diabetic patients with anemia compared to nonanemic diabetics had more comorbidities (median 4 (4, 5) vs. 3 (2–4); p<0.001)—PAD more often (p=0.004), more hospitalization (median 2 (0–11) vs. 0 (0–11); p<0.001), and more frequent medical procedures (e.g., percutaneous coronary intervention (p<0.001), coronary artery bypass surgery (p=0.027), arteriography (p<0.001), and bypass surgery or endovascular treatments of lower limb ischemia (p<0.001)). The cumulative survival of patients with both DM and anemia vs. nonanemic diabetics at 36 months was 86.4% vs. 99.3% (p<0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model showed anemia to be a significant risk factor for death in diabetic patients (p=0.013). Patients with both DM and anemia have more comorbidities than nonanemic diabetic patients; they are more often hospitalized, require medical procedures more frequently, and are at a higher risk of death. Effective treatment of anemia in patients with DM is advisable and may well improve the prognosis of patients.
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spelling doaj-art-2e010aad8d08460e9673c15a79fe95272025-08-20T02:38:49ZengWileyJournal of Diabetes Research2314-67452314-67532021-01-01202110.1155/2021/87459688745968Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly PopulationS. S. Michalak0E. Wolny-Rokicka1E. Nowakowska2M. Michalak3L. Gil4Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Gora, PolandDepartment of Radiotherapy, Multidisciplinary Hospital, Gorzow Wielkopolski, PolandDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Gora, PolandDepartment of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, PolandDepartment of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, PolandDiabetes mellitus (DM) and also anemia are common in the elderly and have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes of patients. The coexistence of anemia and DM seems to be insufficiently recognized; therefore, the aim of our study is to analyze the incidence and clinical consequences of this coexistence, including mortality, in the population of people aged ≥60. A retrospective study was conducted on 981 primary care clinic patients aged ≥60 during 2013-2014. The prevalence of coexistence of DM and anemia (defined in accordance with WHO) and data on the incidence of comorbidities, hospitalization, medical procedures, and all-cause mortality were analyzed. In the study population, 25% had DM, while 5.4% had both DM and anemia. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) was found in 48 patients (4.89%) of the entire study population, more often in men (p<0.001). Diabetic patients with anemia compared to nonanemic diabetics had more comorbidities (median 4 (4, 5) vs. 3 (2–4); p<0.001)—PAD more often (p=0.004), more hospitalization (median 2 (0–11) vs. 0 (0–11); p<0.001), and more frequent medical procedures (e.g., percutaneous coronary intervention (p<0.001), coronary artery bypass surgery (p=0.027), arteriography (p<0.001), and bypass surgery or endovascular treatments of lower limb ischemia (p<0.001)). The cumulative survival of patients with both DM and anemia vs. nonanemic diabetics at 36 months was 86.4% vs. 99.3% (p<0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model showed anemia to be a significant risk factor for death in diabetic patients (p=0.013). Patients with both DM and anemia have more comorbidities than nonanemic diabetic patients; they are more often hospitalized, require medical procedures more frequently, and are at a higher risk of death. Effective treatment of anemia in patients with DM is advisable and may well improve the prognosis of patients.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8745968
spellingShingle S. S. Michalak
E. Wolny-Rokicka
E. Nowakowska
M. Michalak
L. Gil
Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
Journal of Diabetes Research
title Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
title_full Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
title_fullStr Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
title_short Clinical Implications of the Coexistence of Anemia and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly Population
title_sort clinical implications of the coexistence of anemia and diabetes mellitus in the elderly population
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8745968
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