Incidences of malnutrition and abdominal obesity in elderly type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the incidences of malnutrition (including undernutrition, overweight, and obesity) and abdominal obesity in elderly type 2 diabetes. Methods Totally, 133 elderly type 2 diabetes patients [study group, aged (66.9 5±.4) years] and 133 age-matched healthy subjects [control group, aged (66. 3 ±5.8) years] who met entry criteria and obtained informed consent were randomly enrolled into this study. Body weight, total body fat (TBF), abdominal fat, visceral fat, visceral fat area, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured by multi-frequency bioelectric impedance analysis. The incidences of undernutrition, overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity judged by BMI and WHR respectively were compared between the two groups. Results Com- pared to control group, BMI [(25.7 3.8) vs. (24.2 2.2) kg/m2, P = 0.001 ], TBF [ (20.1±6.9) vs. (17.4 5.0) kg, P = 0.001], WHR (0. 92±0.10 vs. 0.87±0.06, P =0.001), abdominal fat [(10.2 3.4) vs. (8.6 2.5)kg, P= 0.001], visceral fat [(2.7±0.9) w. (2.3 0.7)kg, P =0.001 ], and visceral fat area [ (89.1±28. 8) vs. (75. 7±21. 6) cm2, P =0.001 ] significantly increased in study group. The incidences of undernutrition (BMI<18.5, 3.8% vs. 0, P=0.024) and obesity (BMI^28.0, 26.3% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.001) judged by BMI Chinese standard in study group were significantly higher than those in control group. The incidences of over-TBF (52. 1% vs. 34. 1% , P =0.023) and abdominal obesity in males of study group (83.6% vs. 67.1% , P =0. 017) were significantly higher than those in control group. Conclusion Measurement and control of TBF, waist circumference, and abdominal and visceral fats should be emphasized in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Key words: Elderly; Diabetes; Malnutrition; Body mass index; Abdominal obesity