Correlation between Oxygen Saturation and Fasting Blood Sugar Levels in the Elderly

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the elderly are a group of people aged 60 years or more [1]. In 2010 the number of elderly people was recorded at 18.1 million people or 17.6 percent. In 2014 the number increased to 18.8 million people [2]. In Indonesia, the elderly in 2020 are estimated to reach 28.8 million people or 11.34 percent of the total population in the country. The 2018 Riskesdas data noted that the majority of elderly people in Indonesia have degenerative diseases and or chronic health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. These diseases will cause problems if they are not treated or prevented [3]. Oxygen saturation is the fraction of hemoglobin in oxygen saturation relative to the total hemoglobin in the blood or the oxygen level in the blood. Oxygen is bound by Hemoglobin in red blood cells or Erythrocytes. The human body needs and regulates a very precise and specific oxygen balance in the blood, because the human body needs oxygen from the environment outside the body for metabolic processes and body activities [4]. Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation level in humans is 95-100 percent. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health problem. Data from a global study shows that the number of people with Diabetes Mellitus in 2011 has reached 366 million people in the world [5]. Objective: The objective is to determine the relationship between oxygen saturation and fasting blood sugar levels in the elderly. Method: This research is an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design. The research subjects were elderly aged ≥ 60 years who live in the Malalayang Dua Village, Manado City, Indonesia. In this study, the normal reference value for oxygen saturation was 95-100% and the normal fasting blood sugar/glucose (FBG) reference value according to WHO was <100 mg/dL. Based on the analysis of the relationship using the Pearson correlation test, there was a significant relationship between oxygen saturation and fasting ....