Sociodemográficos indicators and health of elderly who have and do not have diabetes

Abstract

With the age advance the occurrence of diabetes mellitus increases. The health services need adequacy to meet the specific demands of this population, for that the diagnosis of health of the people assigned should be made. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of a group of elderly who has diabetes and another group who doesn’t have diabetes, according to the socialdemographic and health variable, as well as identify the differences between them. Study participants were 151 subjects, aged above 60 years old with diabetes mellitus (Group 1) and 151 without the disease (Group 2), paired by sex and age. Data were collected through structured instrument, at the elderly’s home, processed in the program EPIINFO vs 6. Descriptive analysis was performed and ?2 test (p <0.05). There was a higher percentage for females (73.5%) with 1° incomplete grade (70%), income from 1 to 2 minimum wage. Variables that showed significant differences between the two groups were: ratio of retirement, regular use of medicines, health problems, search for public health services, care and hospitalization. The care to the elderly becomes a challenge, for its growing demand in the health services front of chronic diseases, including the diabetes mellitus.