# Diabetes and Hospitalizations Among Mexican Americans Aged 75 Years and Older

## TL;DR

The study finds that older Mexican Americans with diabetes, especially those with complications, are more likely to be hospitalized over a 12-year period.

## Contribution

The study specifically identifies diabetes-related complications as a significant risk factor for hospitalization in this demographic.

## Key findings

- Mexican Americans with diabetes and complications had a 1.56 higher odds of hospitalization compared to those without diabetes.
- Heart failure, falls, amputation, and insulin treatment were associated with increased hospitalization risk in those with diabetes.
- The study highlights the importance of managing diabetes-related complications to reduce hospitalization rates in older Mexican Americans.

## Abstract

To examine factors associated with hospitalization among Mexican Americans aged 75 years and older with diabetes (with and without complications) and without diabetes over 12 years of follow up.

Participants (N = 1454) were from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (2004/2005-2016) residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Measures included socio-demographics, medical conditions, falls, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, disability, physician visits, and hospitalizations. Participants were categorized as no diabetes (N = 1028), diabetes without complications (N = 180), and diabetes with complications (N = 246).

Participants with diabetes and complications had greater odds ratio (1.56, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.23-1.98) over time of being admitted to the hospital in the prior year versus those without diabetes. Participants with diabetes had greater odds of hospitalization if they had heart failure, falls, amputation, and insulin treatment.

In Mexican American older adults, diabetes and diabetes-related complications increased the risk of hospitalization.