medRxiv · Dec 4, 2025
Comorbidities, geriatric syndromes, and glycaemic control among older patients with diabetes: a multi-centre study in Vietnam
By Wong WJ, Van Nguyen T, Truong DN et al.
Abstract Aim This study aimed to examine the burden of comorbidities and common geriatric syndromes in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Vietnam and their relationship with poor glycaemic control. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of patients aged 60 years or older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who visited the cardio-metabolic clinics of two urban hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, between November 2022 and June 2023. Poor glycaemic control was defined as HbA1c ≥ 7.0%. Comorbidity severity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Frailty was defined using Fried’s criteria. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications daily. Multiple-adjusted logistic regression models were applied to identify the factors associated with poor glycaemic control. Results There were 576 participants. They had a mean age of 71.9 (SD 7.6) years, 46% were female, 30% were frail, 77% had polypharmacy. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.9 years (SD 7.4). The mean CCI was 2.5 (SD 1.1), and 34% of the participants had a CCI ≥3. The most common comorbidities were dyslipidaemia (98%), hypertension (96%), followed by chronic kidney disease (17%), and peripheral artery disease (11%). The prevalence of poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%) was 47%. The factors significantly associated with poor glycaemic control were polypharmacy, frailty, and long duration of diabetes. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of comorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy among the participants; all were related to poor glycaemic control. Optimizing polypharmacy, frailty and comorbidity is essential in managing long-term diabetes.