Table 2 Definition of terms used in the study

Demographic

1) Elderly

[12]

- Older adults above 64 years old

Co-morbidities

1) Cardiovascular accident (CVA)

[1, 13]

- Refers to stroke, transient ischemic attack and hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD)

2) Liver impairment

- Refers to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, elevation of liver enzyme such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) of above 3 times upper limit of normal level

3) Renal impairment

- Creatinine clearance of <60 ml/min or as stated in medical records.

Microvascular complications

1) Retinopathy

[1]

- Refers to funduscopic deterioration or as stated in medical records.

2) Neuropathy

- For sensory, included history of foot lesions; for autonomic, included sexual dysfunction and gastroparesis or as stated in medical records.

Metabolic control

1) Glycemic control

[1, 14–16]

- Good glycemic control refers to achieving targeted level of A1C <6.5%.

2) Lipid control

- Good lipid control refers to achieving all lipid fractions targeted level in which LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L, TG <1.7 mmol/L and HDL-C >1.0 mmol/L.

- Poor lipid control refers to those patients unable to achieve one of the lipid fractions within targeted range.

Drug therapy

1) Polypharmacy

[17]

- Six or more chronic medications for duration of at least one month.