The frailty syndrome in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated factors

Abstract Objective: To compare clinical-functional factors among groups in relation to the frailty syndrome (pre-frail and frail) phenotype profile in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2). Methods: A descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was performed. A total of 113 diabetic older adults of both sexes were evaluated in terms of their personal, socio-demographic, clinical-functional, mental, cognitive and fragility phenotype data. The Chi-square test and a logistic regression model were used. Results: The mean age was 68.66±6.62 years, and the sample was mostly female (61.9%), illiterate or with an incomplete primary education (60.2%), pre-frail (52.2%), sedentary (79.6%), and had been diagnosed with DM2 for more than 5 years (58.3%). There was a significant association between “pre-frail and frail” individuals and schooling (p=0.004), social participation (p=0.004), a subjective perception of vision (p=0.004), glycated hemoglobin (p=0.036), limb pain (p=0.012), depressive symptoms (p=0.002) and mobility (p=0.004). The logistic regression model showed an accuracy of 93.6% and the significant variables were education (p=0.039), pain in the lower limbs (p=0.025) and risk of falls (p=0.033). Conclusion: among all the factors related to the “pre-frail” and “frail” phenotype, schooling, pain in the lower limbs and mobility were most related to the worsening of the syndrome and its progress. Resumo Objetivo: Comparar os fatores clínico-funcionais entre os grupos relacionados ao perfil do fenótipo da síndrome da fragilidade (pré-frágil e frágil) em idosos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM 2). Método: Estudo descritivo, analítico, de caráter transversal, com abordagem quantitativa. Foram avaliados 113 idosos diabéticos de ambos os sexos em relação aos dados pessoais, sociodemográficos, clínico-funcionais, função mental, cognitiva e fenótipo de fragilidade. Foi utilizado o teste de qui-quadrado e um modelo de regressão logística. Resultados: A média etária foi 68,66±6,62 anos, maioria feminina (61,9%), analfabeto ou fundamental I incompleto (60,2%), pré-frágil (52,2%), sedentários (79,6%) e diagnosticados com DM2 há mais de 5 anos (58,3%). Houve associação significativa entre os grupos pré-frágil e frágil e escolaridade (p=0,004), participação social (p=0,004), percepção subjetiva da visão (p=0,004), hemoglobina glicada (p=0,036), dor em membros inferiores (p