Factors of Influence on Diabetes Awareness in Older People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Comorbid With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been associated with an increased risk of mortality in this population.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the predictive factors of diabetes awareness (DA), including diabetes knowledge (DK), and diabetes care behaviors (DCB) among older people with both COPD and T2DM.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. One hundred thirty-three older-age patients with COPD comorbid with T2DM receiving treatment at a chest hospital were enrolled as participants. Both DK and DCB were utilized to measure DA. The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire was utilized to measure DK, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities was used to evaluate DCB.

Results: The average glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.68% ( SD = 1.55%), with 74 (55.6%) participants having a level > 7%. The average DA was 46.46% ( SD = 13.34%), the average DK was 53.42% ( SD = 18.91%), and the average DCB was 39.50% ( SD = 16.66%). In terms of demographic variables, age, diabetes education, diabetes shared care, and HbA1c were all significantly associated with DA, DK, and DCB (all p s < .05). The overall variance in DA was significantly explained by diabetes education and HbA1c (all p s < .05). The overall variance in DK was significantly explained by age, diabetes education, and HbA1c. The overall variance in DCB was significantly explained by diabetes education and HbA1c (all p s < .05).

Conclusions/implications for practice: Our study findings indicate that older adult patients with COPD comorbid with T2DM are at elevated risks of poor glycemic control and low DA. Healthcare professionals should be aware of these issues and develop appropriate DA plans to prevent poor glycemic control in this population. Providing accurate information on diabetes to older adults with COPD comorbid with T2DM is important to improving their DK and promoting better DCB.