Sex differences in the impact of diabetes on the risk of geriatric conditions

Aim: To examine whether sex differences exist in the relationship between diabetes and geriatric conditions. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 2629 community-dwelling older adults, drawn from the 2003 wave of the "Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan." Selected geriatric conditions included cognitive impairment, depression, falls and urinary incontinence (UI). Diabetes and comorbid conditions (heart disease, hypertension, chronic lung disease, stroke, hip fracture, arthritis, chronic kidney disease and cancer) were assessed using questionnaires. Results: A greater proportion of older women, compared with men, had cognitive impairment (15.8% vs 7.3%), depression (22.6% vs 10.4%), falls (26.7% vs 16.3%), and UI (20.9% vs 15.1%). After adjustment for basic demographics and comorbid conditions, diabetes was associated with increased risk for cognitive impairment (RR 1.85 [CI 1.12-3.05], P=0.017), depression (RR 2.03 [CI 1.39-2.97], P=0.0003) and falls (RR 1.72 [CI 1.2-2.48], P=0.003), but not UI (RR 1.4 [CI 0.9-2.1], P=0.067) among older women. However, we did not find any associations in men. Conclusions: Diabetes was associated with excessive risk for geriatric conditions among older women, but not men. The effect of sex differences on the relationship between diabetes and geriatric conditions requires further exploration. ? 2012 Japan Geriatrics Society.