Factors Associated with Chronic Macrovascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in The Coastal Community of Konawe Islands

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Long-term, uncontrolled hyperglycemia can trigger macrovascular complications, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze factors associated with chronic macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus in elderly people in coastal communities in the Konawe Islands Regency.

Methods: This study was quantitative with a cross-sectional approach. The study population was all 256 elderly people with type 2 DM in the period January–September 2025. A sample of 160 respondents was selected using simple random sampling and met the inclusion criteria. Independent variables included duration of diabetes, obesity, blood sugar control, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and physical activity. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman rank test and logistic regression.

Results: Factors significantly associated with macrovascular complications were duration of diabetes mellitus (p=0.00), obesity (p=0.032), dyslipidemia (p=0.000), hypertension (p=0.001), and physical activity (p=0.045). Meanwhile, blood sugar control showed no significant association (p=0.114). The R-square value of 0.500 indicates that half of the variation in complication incidence can be explained by the studied variables.

Conclusion: Duration of diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and physical activity are associated with the occurrence of macrovascular complications in elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Efforts to prevent and control these risk factors need to be increased to reduce the burden of complications in the elderly population in coastal areas.