Incidence of and Risk Factors for Diabetes among Elderly Individuals with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Abstract

We investigated the incidence of diabetes and risk factors for the onset of diabetes among elderly individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) who visited the Institute of Geriatrics at Tokyo Women's Medical University for check-ups in 2007. Among 300 individuals (mean age, 70.7±7.3 years) with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 100-125 mg/dl at baseline, 20 subjects (6.7 %) showed diabetes after 5 years. Of the 82 subjects with FPG 110-125 mg/dl, which is currently used as the cut-off for IFG in Japan, 17 (20.7 %) were diabetics after 5 years. Based on logistic regression analysis (stepwise method) for participants with FPG levels between 100-125 mg/dl, significant risk factors for onset of diabetes within 5 years included hemoglobin (Hb) A1c (odds ratio (OR) 65.089, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 4.329-978.571, p=0.003), FPG (OR 1.141, 95 %CI 1.043-1.248, p=0.004), AST (OR 0.816, 95 %CI 0.711-0.936, p=0.004), and history of stroke (OR 8.088, 95 %CI 1.109-58.987, p=0.039). For participants with FPG levels ≥ 110 mg/dl, HbA1c (OR 105.93, 95 %CI 3.658-3,068.165, p=0.007), triglyceride (TG) (OR 1.028, 95 %CI 1.007-1.050, p=0.01), AST (OR 0.814, 95 %CI 0.685-0.968, p=0.02), and history of stroke (OR 16.09, 95 %CI 1.429-181.224, p=0.025) were significant risk factors. These findings suggest that early intervention in lifestyle is an effective means of preventing the onset of diabetes in elderly individuals.