Characteristics and cardiovascular complications of a large cohort of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes <45 years.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to evaluate the characteristics and cardiovascular complications of a large Belgian cohort of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) <45 years.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 886 patients diagnosed with T2DM <45 years and 933 T2DM patients diagnosed at the age between 60 and 70 years. To compare variables between groups, the independent test or paired test was used for normally distributed continuous variables, the Mann-Whitney's -test for non-normally distributed continuous variables and the Chi squared test or McNemar test for categorical variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders.

RESULTS

In the young-onset T2DM cohort, the age at diagnosis was 37.3 ± 6.4 years, 44.1% of patients were female and 12.1% were from an ethnic minority (EM) background. At last visit, age of patients was 57.3 ± 12.5 years with a diabetes duration of 20.5 ± 11.8 years and a mean HbA1c of 7.3% ± 1.3 (56 mmol/mol ± 14). Of all patients, 56.8% were obese, 49.9% were hypertensive, 34.1% did not reach the LDL cholesterol target and 20.1% had a cardiac event by time of last visit. Compared to women, men had a higher HbA1c [7.3% ± 1.4 (56 mmol/mol ± 15) vs. 7.1% ± 1.2 (54 mmol/mol ± 13), p = 0.021] and a significantly higher rate of cardiac events, even after adjustment for confounders (24.3 vs. 14.8%, p = 0.010). Compared to Caucasians, EM patients were younger at diagnosis (35.4 ± 6.8 years vs. 37.6 ± 6.2 years, p = 0.001) and were less often obese (43.3 vs. 55.6%, p = 0.007). Compared to the first visit, glycemic control improved [7.3% ± 1.3 (56 mmol/mol ± 14) vs. 7.9% ± 1.7 (62 mmol/mol ± 19), p < 0.0001] by the time of the last visit. Compared to the older-onset T2DM cohort, young-onset T2DM patients showed a higher HbA1c [7.3 ± 1.3% (56 mmol/mol ± 14) vs. 6.9 ± 1.0% (51 mmol/mol ± 11), p = <0.0001] and a higher BMI (31.2 ± 5.8 vs. 29.6 ± 5.5 kg/m, p = <0.0001) at last contact. When adjusted for age, diabetes duration, HbA1c and cardiovascular risk factors, there was no difference in cardiovascular events between the two cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

A diagnosis of T2DM <45 years has an important impact on patients' lives. Prevention measures are essential, but also specific attention to this high-risk group is needed for them to better achieve their therapeutic targets.