Factors associated with Increased Diabetes Burden in Elderly Diabetic Patients

To define the factors that determine the increased burden of diabetes in elderly diabetic patients, we examined the relationship between the Elderly Diabetes Impact Scales (EDIS) and physical or social factors in 383 elderly outpatients aged over 60 years old who answered QOL questionnaries by professional interviewers. The EDIS consisted of 6 subscales (burden of symptoms, burden of daily life, burden of diet therapy, burden of drug therapy, satisfaction, worry) and total EDIS scores wre calculated by summing up the 4-point scores of 37 questions. The EDIS scores were highest in patients who received insulin therapy. In univariate analysis, high EDIS scores were significantly associated with high HbA1c, low Roken ADL score, and the presence of retinopahty or neuropathy. Among social factors, leisure activities, housework or jobs, social network, and positive social support were significantly associated with low EDIS scores, while negative social support was associated with high EDIS scores in elderly diabetic patients. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (younger), sex (women), low ADL (or diabetic complications), insulin therapy, low positive social support, high negative social support, economical dissatisfaction, and the low adaptative feeling of diabetes were significant and independent determinants of a high burden in diabetic patients indicated by EDIS scores in Japanese elderly diabetic patients.