Prevalence of a Hemoglobin A_1c Less Than 7.0%, of a Blood Pressure Less Than 130/80 mm Hg, and of a Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Less Than 100 mg/dL in Older Patients With Diabetes Mellitus in an Academic Nursing Home

Objective

To determine the prevalence of a hemoglobin A_1c less than 7.0%, of a blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg, and of a serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL in older persons with diabetes mellitus who were not terminally ill in an academic nursing home.

Design

We investigated in all older diabetic individuals who were not terminally ill in an academic nursing home the prevalence of a hemoglobin A_1c less than 7.0%, of a blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg, and of a serum LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL.

Setting

An academic nursing home.

Participants

Of 202 persons, 62 (31%) had diabetes mellitus. The 62 diabetic individuals included 33 women and 29 men, mean age 73 ± 9 years.

Measurements

Prevalence of hemoglobin A_1c less than 7.0%, of blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg, and of serum LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL.

Results

The hemoglobin A_1c was less than 7.0% in 55 (89%) of 62 diabetic individuals. The blood pressure was less than 130/80 mm Hg in 52 (84%) of 62 diabetic individuals. The serum LDL cholesterol was less than 100 mg/dL in 55 (89%) of 62 diabetic individuals.

Conclusion

As recommended by the American Diabetes Association, the hemoglobin A_1c was less than 7.0% in 55 (89%) of 62 diabetic individuals, the blood pressure was less than 130/80 mm Hg in 52 (84%) of 62 diabetic individuals, and the serum LDL cholesterol was less than 100 mg/dL in 55 (89%) of 62 diabetic individuals in an academic nursing home.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin A_1c, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, renal insufficiency