Prediabetes screening: Questionable benefits in the golden years

Irrespective of the definition and diagnostic criteria used, the term prediabetes denotes a state of dysmetabolism with a high risk of progression to diabetes mellitus. Although diabetes-related complications may already be evident among individuals with prediabetes, interventions at this stage prim...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dimitrios Tsilingiris, Natalia G. Vallianou, Maria Dalamaga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-06-01
Series:Metabolism Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589936821000153
Description
Summary:Irrespective of the definition and diagnostic criteria used, the term prediabetes denotes a state of dysmetabolism with a high risk of progression to diabetes mellitus. Although diabetes-related complications may already be evident among individuals with prediabetes, interventions at this stage primarily aim to hinder the development of overt hyperglycemia rather than to prevent complications. Current recommendations for prediabetes testing are common across all adult age categories. Recent evidence arising from the prospective investigation of the natural course of prediabetes among elderly individuals pose questions regarding the benefits of meticulous prediabetes screening in this age group. In view of this and due to the lack of sufficient data to concretely support a positive impact of further preventive strategies among older individuals, screening recommendations should be reevaluated to target selected elderly individuals who are most likely to benefit in terms of quality of life and prognosis. Further therapeutic measures should be tailored to the inherent features of this frail age group, in order to exert a meaningful effect on overall health status.
ISSN:2589-9368