[Relationship between the type and number of social participation events and the cognitive function in older diabetics].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the type and number of social participation events and the cognitive function in elderly patients with diabetes. METHODS: The subjects were diabetic outpatients of ≥60 years of age who were managed at Ise Red Cross Hospital. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia were assessed using a self-administered dementia checklist. Six types of social participation activities and the number of participants were investigated. A logistic regression analysis with MCI and dementia as dependent variables, social participation as an explanatory variable, and adjustment variables was used to calculate the odds ratios for social participation according to the presence of MCI and dementia. RESULTS: In total, 352 patients were included in the analysis. Volunteer activities (P=0.012), hobbies (P=0.006), activities to share skills and experiences (P=0.026), and work (P=0.003) were significantly associated with dementia. Regarding the association between the amount of social participation and dementia, there was a decrease in the risk of dementia when the number of social participation was 2. However, social participation was not significantly associated with MCI in this study. CONCLUSION: The type and number of social participation events were found to be associated with the risk of dementia in elderly patients with diabetes.

[Decreased appetite is associated with a decreased cognitive function in elderly patients with diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between decreased appetite and the cognitive function in elderly diabetic patients. METHODS: The study subjects were outpatients with diabetes who were 60 years of age or older, and who were managed at Ise Red Cross Hospital. The cognitive function was assessed using a self-administered Dementia Checklist. The Japanese version of the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) was used to measure decreased appetite. A logistic regression analysis, in which the dependent variable was cognitive decline and the explanatory variables were appetite loss and adjustment variables, was used to calculate the odds ratio for cognitive decline according to the presence of appetite loss. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty patients were included in the analysis. Seventeen percent of the patients had decreased appetite and 21% had a decreased cognitive function. The unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of cognitive decline for those with decreased appetite were 2.78 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.66-4.65; P<0.001) and 2.26 (95% CI, 1.16-4.37; P=0.015), respectively, based on the absence of decreased appetite. CONCLUSION: Decreased appetite in elderly patients with diabetes was associated with a decreased cognitive function.

[Decreased family caregiver satisfaction with diabetes treatment of elderly patients is associated with patient depressive symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the dissatisfaction of family caregivers with diabetes treatment and depressive symptoms among the elderly. METHODS: The subjects were diabetic patients of 65 years of age or older and their family caregivers, who were outpatients at Ise Red Cross Hospital. The Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, which consists of nine items, was used to measure depressive symptoms. The Japanese version of the Treatment Satisfaction Scale for Caregivers of Dependent Diabetic Patients (STCD2-J) was used to measure the satisfaction of family caregivers with diabetes treatment. A logistic regression analysis was performed using depressive symptoms as dependent variable, satisfaction of the family caregiver with diabetes treatment as an explanatory variable, and adjustment variables. RESULTS: In total, 272 patients were included in the analysis. Taking the quintiles of STCD2-J scores, the adjusted odds ratios for patient depressive symptoms in Q2 (27-29), Q3 (24-26), Q4 (22-23) and Q5 (14-21) based on Q1 (30-36) (the group with the highest STCD2-J scores) were 2.44 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69-8.61; P=0.163), 3.08 (95% CI, 0.93-10.12; P=0.063), 2.69 (95% CI, 0.68-10.65; P=0.156), and 4.54 (95% CI, 1.44-14.32; P=0.010), respectively. CONCLUSION: We found that family caregivers' decreased satisfaction with diabetes treatment was associated with depressive symptoms. It is important to alert primary care physicians about depressive symptoms when they see family caregivers who show decreased satisfaction with diabetes treatment.

[Undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity according to the GLIM criteria phenotype in elderly patients with diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of malnutrition and sarcopenic obesity in elderly patients with diabetes according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) phenotypes. METHODS: The subjects were outpatients with diabetes who were ≥65 years of age and were managed at Ise Red Cross Hospital. Undernutrition was assessed and categorized into the following GLIM criteria phenotypes: (1) no undernutrition, (2) undernutrition (weight loss or low body mass index [BMI]/no low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index [ASMI]), (3) undernutrition (no weight loss or no low BMI/low ASMI), and (4) undernutrition (weight loss or low BMI/low ASMI). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019, and obesity was diagnosed based on the body fat percentage. RESULTS: In total, 490 patients were included in the analysis. The frequency of undernutrition was 29.0%, and the frequency of undernutrition according to the GLIM criteria phenotypes was as follows: weight loss or low BMI/no low ASMI group, 10.6%; no weight loss and no low BMI/low ASMI group, 9.8%; and weight loss or low BMI/low ASMI group, 8.6%. The frequency of sarcopenic obesity was 7.3%, with the majority of cases found in the no weight loss or no low BMI/low ASMI groups. CONCLUSION: The frequency of undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity in elderly patients with diabetes, according to the GLIM phenotypes, was revealed. It is important to pay attention not only to weight loss and low BMI, but also to undernutrition and sarcopenic obesity with reduced skeletal muscle mass when diagnosing undernutrition in elderly diabetic patients.

[The frequency of cachexia and its associated factors in elderly diabetic patients with chronic diseases: A study using the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Cachexia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of cachexia and its associated factors using the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC) criteria in elderly patients with diabetes and chronic diseases. METHODS: The subjects were diabetic outpatients of ≥65 years of age who were managed at Ise Red Cross Hospital. Patients with chronic disease (chronic heart failure, cancer, or chronic renal failure). Cachexia was evaluated based on the AWGC criteria and was defined as a body mass index (BMI) <21 kg/m2 and one or more of the following: anorexia, elevated C-reactive protein, and decreased grip strength. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify cachexia-related factors, with cachexia as the dependent variable, and various variables (basic attributes, blood glucose-related parameters, diabetic complications, comorbidities, and treatment) as explanatory variables. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-two patients (male, n=164; female, n=78) were included in the study. Forty patients (16.5%) had cachexia. A logistic analysis revealed that age (odds ratio (OR), 1.16; P<0.001), type 1 diabetes (OR, 15.25; P=0.002), diabetic retinopathy (OR, 5.72; P=0.001), and physical frailty (OR, 7.06; P<0.001) were associated with cachexia. CONCLUSION: Elderly diabetics with chronic diseases were more likely to have cachexia. According to the AWGC criteria, the frequency of cachexia was 16.5% in elderly patients with diabetes and chronic diseases. Additionally, type 1 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, age, and physical frailty were identified as factors associated with cachexia. In elderly diabetes patients with chronic diseases, it is therefore important to raise awareness regarding cachexia when these related factors are diagnosed.

[Vegetable-first eating habits are associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment in elderly diabetic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between vegetable-first eating habits and the cognitive function in elderly patients with diabetes. METHODS: The subjects were outpatients with diabetes ≥60 years old at Ise Red Cross Hospital. A self-administered dementia checklist was used to assess mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their vegetable-first eating habits and were classified into 4 groups: 0, 1, 2, and 3 times a day. The dependent variables were mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and the explanatory variable was vegetable-first eating habits (0 as a reference). RESULTS: In total, 358 patients were included in the analysis. The number of vegetable-first meals was 0 in 153 (42.7%), 1 in 48 (13.4%), 2 in 46 (12.8%), and 3 in 111 (31.1%) patients. The adjusted odds ratios for 1, 2, and 3 times of mild cognitive impairment were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-1.94; P=0.680), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.32-2.00; P=0.653), and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.17-0.81; P=0.014), respectively. However, there was no significant association between vegetable-first eating habits and dementia. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with diabetes, a vegetable-first eating habit at each meal was associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment.

[Difficulty experienced by family in supporting elderly diabetic patients is associated with a decline in patients' higher-level functions].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between difficulties experienced by family in supporting elderly patients with diabetes and these patients' higher-level functions. METHODS: The subjects were outpatients with diabetes ≥65 years old at Ise Red Cross Hospital and their family members. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was used to assess patients' higher-level functions. The Japanese version of the Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale (D-CASS-J) was used to measure difficulties experienced by family in supporting elderly patients with diabetes. Using a multiple regression analysis with TMIG-IC scores (instrumental ADL, intellectual activity, and social participation) as the dependent variable and D-CASS-J scores (based on the highest scoring Q1 group among the three quartiles of D-CASS-J scores) as the explanatory variables, standardized regression coefficients (ß) for higher-level functions on the family's perceived support difficulties were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 429 patients (254 male patients and 175 female patients) were included in the analysis. For male patients, the adjusted beta values for TMIG-IC scores in Q2 and Q3 were -0.039 (P=0.649) and -0.352 (P<0.001), respectively, and the adjusted beta values for the instrumental ADL scores were -0.064 (P=0.455), -0.192 (P=0.047), -0.090 (P=0.375), and -0.360 (P=0.002) for the Intellectually Active scores, respectively, and the adjusted beta for social role scores were 0.054 (P=0.581) and -0.261 (P=0.019), respectively. However, there was no association between the patients' higher-level functions and family support difficulties among female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Difficulty experienced by the family in supporting elderly male patients with diabetes is associated with reduced higher-level functioning.