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Alberto Palloni, PhD, Sociology, Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 4412 Social Science Building, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706 and Flavia Andrade, MA, Sociology, Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin Madison, 4412 Social Science Building, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, (212) 3580867, fandrade@ssc.wisc.edu.

This study examines the population-based prevalence of diabetes among elderly people in seven countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It also analyzes the age and sex-specific differences in patterns of diabetes prevalence as well as the effect of other socioeconomic and anthropometric covariates. The study included 9,260 individuals, aged 60 and over. The differences in patterns of diabetes prevalence were analyzed using the Brass logit system. We used logistic regressions to assess the role of covariates. Diabetes prevalence reached 16.4% of the survey sample. Prevalence rates were higher in Mexico (22.5%) and Barbados (20.9%) and lowest in Argentina (12.5%), Uruguay (13.1%) and Chile (13.4%). Brazil and Cuba have intermediate levels. Argentina and Cuba have prevalence rates that are higher at younger ages than in the average of the Latin America and the Caribbean. Larger concentration of central fat increases the odds of having diabetes. Coefficients are significant in all countries, except Chile and Cuba. In Barbados, Brazil and Cuba, higher values of BMI are also associated with higher prevalence of diabetes. We find that central obesity, height and BMI are important predictors of diabetes prevalence among elderly in these countries. This study also explored the differences in age patterns in an innovative way, which makes it easier to contrast countries in terms of older versus younger prevalence of diabetes, which is associated with disease duration. Policy-makers in those countries, who usually lack adequate information, can use our findings to plan interventions that might result in reductions of disease incidence.

Learning Objectives:

• This study examines the population-based prevalence of diabetes among elderly people in seven countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
• This study also explores the differences in age patterns in an innovative way, which makes it easier to contrast countries in terms of older versus younger prevalence of diabetes, which is associated with disease duration.

Keywords: Diabetes, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered