Cardiovascular disease risk in early‐onset vs late‐onset type 2 diabetes in China: A population‐based cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background This study investigated the effects of early‐onset type 2 diabetes (EOD) vs late‐onset type 2 diabetes (LOD) on nonfatal cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in China. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of 46 239 participants from 14 provinces in China from 2007 to 2008, selecting 4949 participants with type 2 diabetes for analysis. Participants were categorized as EOD (<40 years) or LOD (≥40 years) based on age at diabetes diagnosis. Sociodemographic and nonfatal CVD information was collected through an interviewer‐assisted questionnaire and clinical examination. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the nonfatal CVD risk. Results Out of 4949 participants with type 2 diabetes, 390 (7.88%) had nonfatal CVD. Participants with EOD had a higher age‐standardized prevalence of nonfatal CVD than those with LOD (11.4% vs 4.4%). Compared to LOD patients, EOD patients tended to be males and had a higher family history of diabetes, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and lower blood pressure levels. After adjustment for age and sex, EOD patients had a higher risk of nonfatal CVD than LOD patients (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% CI 1.5–3.5). After further adjustment for diabetes duration, use of drugs, and other risk factors, the OR of nonfatal CVD was reduced but significant (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9). Sensitivity analysis revealed that EOD patients with metabolic syndrome had an increased nonfatal CVD risk compared to LOD patients (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.5). Conclusions EOD patients are at increased risk of nonfatal CVD. Individualized intervention and management measures for EOD patients are necessary.

Keywords

• China National Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Study
• cross‐sectional study
• early‐onset type 2 diabetes
• nonfatal cardiovascular disease