Vascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pathipaka Divya, Deepti P Deshmukh, Reddy Manohar Naidu, Pranav Nagpure

Abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the elderly is increasingly prevalent and associated with significant vascular morbidity. Age of onset and duration of diabetes may influence the pattern and burden of vascular complications. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of vascular complications in elderly patients with T2DM and compare them based on age of onset and duration of diabetes. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 patients aged ≥65 years with T2DM. Patients were grouped into elderly-onset (onset ?65 years) and middle-age-onset (onset <65 years). Vascular complications (microvascular and macrovascular) and age of onset and duration of diabetes were compared using Chi-square and t-tests. Results: Of the 201 patients, 40.3% had elderly-onset T2DM. Microvascular complications were more prevalent in middle-age-onset patients (retinopathy 29.2% vs.25.9%; neuropathy 50% vs.23.5%; nephropathy 75.8% vs.29.6%; p<0.001 for latter two). Coronary artery disease was significantly higher in elderly-onset group (67.9% vs.45.8%, p<0.01), while cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease showed no significant difference. Longer diabetes duration was associated with higher prevalence of all complications. Conclusion: Middle-age-onset diabetes is associated with a higher burden of microvascular complications, while elderly-onset patients are more prone to coronary artery disease. Age of onset and duration of diabetes should guide individualized risk assessment and management.

Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Elderly, Microvascular, Macrovascular, Coronary Artery Disease, Age of Onset

How to Cite?: Pathipaka Divya, Deepti P Deshmukh, Reddy Manohar Naidu, Pranav Nagpure, "Vascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 1, January 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1080-1084, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=MR26116231050, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/MR26116231050