Analysis of glycemic control in elderly octogenarians using oral hypoglycemic agents

Aims: Consider the glycemic level of elderly octogenarians with diabetes mellitus when using oral hypoglycemic agents. Methods: Descriptive study carried out by reviewing data collected from patients treated on an outpatient basis at the Hospital da Universidade Católica de Brasília - HUCB. The patients were submitted to medical evaluation through an anamnesis in a first consultation, where diseases that had already been diagnosed and the medications that are taken under medical prescription were reported. The elderly were subsequently referred to a Clinical Analysis Laboratory for the blood collection of laboratory tests. We assessed glycemia and glycated hemoglobin in patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II and the drug therapy used for glycemic control. Results: Data on 139 elderly people aged 80 years and over were analyzed. Of these, 36 (25.9%) had diabetes mellitus II and 29 (20.9%) were using oral hypoglycemic agents. Patients who did not present information on the diagnosis of DM II and use of oral hypoglycemic agents, who used insulin or who did not have results of laboratory tests were excluded from the analysis. It was observed that, among diabetic patients using oral hypoglycemic agents, 19 (52.8%) presented increased glycemia and 10 (27.8%) normal glycemic index. In the analysis of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), 13 patients (36.1%) presented normal results and 16 (44.4%) increased rates. The presence of 16 patients with concomitantly increased glycemic indexes and HbA1c was found, with 6 using Metformin + Gliclazide and 8 using Metformin up to a dose of 2550 mg / day. Conclusion: A small portion of patients using drug therapy had goals for glycemic control. Age and accompanying metabolic changes interfere with the effectiveness of drugs in the body. Greater individualization of treatments and greater monitoring of the prescription of oral hypoglycemic agents is necessary in this portion of the population, always analyzing the risks of possible hypoglycemia and the chronic effect of high glycemic levels in the body.