Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en adultos mayores atendidos en un Centro de Salud No. 5 de la ciudad de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults is characterized by a series of clinical and epidemiological aspects; clinically, it manifests with elevated blood glucose levels, often in combination with insulin resistance and metabolic alterations. Objective: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults treated at a Health Center No. 5 in the city of Guayaquil. Methodological Design: Study with a quantitative, descriptive, retrospective and crosssectional approach. Population: 4,906 patients treated in the period 2022 to 2023. Sample: 358 older adult patients with type 2 diabetes. Technique: Indirect observation. Instrument: Indirect observation matrix. Results: Older adults, predominantly aged 65 to 70 years (30%), women (55%), middle socioeconomic level (50%), with diagnosis more than 12 months (40%), residents of urban areas (74%), from the coastal region (88%). As personal pathological history they presented alcoholism (35%) and as family pathological history they had diabetic relatives (60%); among the risk factors, overweight (80%), diabetic relatives (70%), sedentary lifestyle (65%) and prediabetes (60%) stand out. Among the clinical manifestations, fatigue (75%) and polyuria (55%) prevail, and as complications, they presented eye problems (65%) and nerve damage (55%). Conclusion: The clinical characteristics that predominate in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus include predominant manifestations such as fatigue and polyuria, in addition to common complications such as eye problems, nerve damage and kidney disease.