Earlier onset of complications in youth with type 2 diabetes

To evaluate the risk of complications in youth with type 2 diabetes.

Population-based cohorts of 342 youth (1-18 years of age) with prevalent type 2 diabetes, 1,011 youth with type 1 diabetes, and 1,710 nondiabetic control youth were identified between 1986 and 2007 from a clinical registry and linked to health care records to assess long-term outcomes using ICD-9CM and ICD-10CA codes.

Youth with type 2 diabetes had an increased risk of any complication (hazard ratio 1.47 [95% CI 1.02-2.12]). Significant adverse clinical factors included age at diagnosis (1.08 [1.02-2.12]), HbA1c (1.06 [1.01-1.12]), and, surprisingly, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor use (1.75 [1.27-2.41]). HNF-1α G319S polymorphism was protective in the type 2 diabetes cohort (0.58 [0.34-0.99]). Kaplan-Meier statistics revealed an earlier diagnosis of renal and neurologic complications in the type 2 diabetes cohort, manifesting within 5 years of diagnosis. No difference in retinopathy was seen. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were rare; however, major complications (dialysis, blindness, or amputation) started to manifest 10 years after diagnosis in the type 2 diabetes cohort. Youth with type 2 diabetes had higher rates of all outcomes than nondiabetic control youth and an overall 6.15-fold increased risk of any vascular disease.

Youth with type 2 diabetes exhibit complications sooner than youth with type 1 diabetes. Younger age at diagnosis is potentially protective, and glycemic control is an important modifiable risk factor. The unexpected adverse association between RAAS inhibitor use and outcome is likely a confounder by indication; however, further evaluation in young people is warranted.