Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: AIM: This study aims to evaluate the various factors that contribute to the burden of diabetes in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in the internal medicine clinic of a training and study hospital in Türkiye between January 2018 and May 2019. The study sample consisted of 102 elderly individuals aged 65 years and older with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Data Form and the Burden of Diabetes in the Elderly Scale. RESULTS: The mean total score for the Elderly Burden Diabetes Scale of participants' was 50.98 ± 15.59. When the scores (min = 18, max = 88 points) that could be obtained from the scale were taken into account, it was evident that the diabetes burden of elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes was below the moderate level. Age group, marital status and duration of diabetes diagnosis did not affect diabetes burden (p > 0.05). Diabetes burden was higher in patients with education below the undergraduate level, those who used combined oral antidiabetic and insulin treatment, and those with comorbidities (p < 0.05). While there was a negative relationship between comorbidity status and diabetes burden, there was a positive relationship between diabetes treatment and diabetes burden (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the diabetes burden of elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes was below the mean, and combined treatments and the presence of comorbidities increased the diabetes burden. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Improving the drug management of elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes and effectively controlling comorbidities in older individuals may play an important role in reducing the burden of diabetes.
DOI: 10.1111/scs.70032
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,400
OpenAlex ID: W4410595441