Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Diabetes Mellitus In Chilean Older Adults: A CrossSectional National Survey Analysis

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus poses a significant public health challenge in aging populations, particularly in Latin America, where prevalence among older adults exceeds global averages due to socioeconomic transitions and lifestyle factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its sociodemographic and biochemical associations in Chilean adults aged 60 years and older using the 2016-2017 Chilean National Health Survey. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 2031 participants from the CNHS 2016-2017. Diabetes was defined by self-report or biochemical criteria (fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5%). Sociodemographics (sex, age, education, marital status, zone, region) and biochemical markers (glucose, HbA1c, BMI, triglycerides, cholesterol, metabolic syndrome) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, crosstabs, and t-tests (p<0.05). Results: Prevalence was 28.1% (n=570), higher in females (30.4%) and regions like Araucanía (36.5%). Significant differences in biochemical markers included glucose (140.6 vs 96.9 mg/dL) and HbA1c (7.4% vs 5.9%) between groups with and without diabetes (p<0.001). Conclusions: High prevalence and disparities underscore the need for targeted screening and interventions in Chilean elderly to mitigate metabolic risks and healthcare burdens.