Polypharmacy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes receiving oral antidiabetic treatment

Aim: Polypharmacy in older diabetics can have detrimental effects linked to poor adherence and the risk of drug interaction or more serious/frequent side effects. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics associated with polypharmacy in a cohort of elderly diabetic patients being treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. Methods: The study population consisted of 1342 diabetic patients consecutively enrolled in 57 diabetes centers in Italy participating in the METABOLIC Study. Patients meeting the following inclusion criteria were enrolled: diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, age ≥65 years, and receiving oral antidiabetic treatment. Data concerning diabetes duration and comp…

40(th) EASD Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes : Munich, Germany, 5-9 September 2004

Prevalence of 'borderline' values of cardiovascular risk factors in the clinical practice of general medicine in Italy: results of the BORDERLINE study

Introduction: The prevalence of patients with 'borderline' levels of cardiovascular risk factors has been rarely investigated, being often reported in studies evaluating abnormal values of these parameters. The BORDERLINE study represents a pilot experience to primarily identify the prevalence of 'high-normal' conditions, such as pre-hypertension, lipid and glucose levels in the upper range of normality in the setting of general practice in Italy. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of patients with 'borderline' values of cardiovascular risk factors in Italy. Methods: Involved physicians were asked to evaluate the first 20 outpatients, consecutively seen in June 2009. …

Reply to Letter to the Editor “Polypharmacy in elderly people with diabetes admitted to hospital”