Abstract: Objective To assess the differences of clinical characteristics in the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) with middle-aged onset and aged onset. Methods A total of 5670 patients with T2DM were enrolled, and were divided into three groups according to the age and diabetic onset age, including 2867 aged onset elderly patients, 1518 middle-aged onset elderly patients, and 1285 middle-aged onset non-elderly patients. The levels of fasting plasma glucose(FPG), postprandial glucose(PPG), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycerin trilaurate, serum creatinine, microalbumin/creatinin ratio(ACR) and ankle brachial index(ABI) were detected and compared. Results The glucose control levels(FPG, PPG, HbA1c) of aged onset elderly patients were significantly better than those of middle-aged onset elderly patients and middle-aged onset non-elderly patients. The control rate of HbA1c in the three groups was 50.37%, 41.96% and 38.44%, respectively(all P< 0.05). The proportions of the patients receiving diet and exercise intervention or taking only one oral hypoglycemic drug were higher while the proportion of insulin use was significantly lower in aged onset elderly patients than those of middle-aged onset elderly patients. The proportions of diabetic macrovascular complications(coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease) showed no significant differences between the groups, while the proportion of diabetic microvascular complication(diabetic nephropathy) in aged onset elderly patients was significantly lower than that in middle-aged onset elderly patients(P< 0.05). Conclusions The majority of elderly patients with T2DM are aged onset patients. Compared with middle-aged onset elderly patients, aged onset patients are more easier to control glucose levels and need simpler hypoglycemic medications, and the proportion of diabetic microvascular complication(diabetic nephropathy) in aged onset elderly patients is significantly lower than that of middle-aged onset elderly patients.

Key words: aged, type 2 diabetes mellitus, onset age, glucose control, complication