The relationship of glucose tolerance at entry with 5-year all-cause mortality was investigated in Finland in men aged 65-84. Impaired compared to normal glucose tolerance was not associated with all-cause mortality in the Finnish elderly cohort. However, the relative risk of all-cause mortality in 5 years was twice as high among men with diabetes compared to those with normal glucose tolerance at entry. The relation of diabetes at entry and all-cause mortality was investigated in elderly cohorts of Finland, The Netherlands, and Italy. Diabetic men aged 65-84 in the three countries were followed for 10 years and had a 40% higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-diabetic men.
Conclusion
Glucose tolerance was classified into normal, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes in elderly men. Impaired glucose tolerance compared to normal glucose tolerance was not associated with all-cause mortality. The relative risk of all-cause mortality was twice as high among men with diabetes compared with those of normal glucose tolerance. Elderly diabetic men had a greater all-cause mortality risk compared to non-diabetic men.