The Difference in Risk Factors Between Adults With Early-Onset (<40 Years Old) Versus Late-Onset (≥40 Years Old) Type 2 Diabetes in a University Hospital From January 2015-December 2017

Abstract

Background: Diabetes will remain a threat to global health. No longer just a disorder of mature age, there is now a well-recognized trend towards the young. Early diagnosis leads to early intervention and prevention of complications in this susceptible but vital portion of the population. Objective: To compare the risk factors predisposing adults to early-onset (<40 years old) versus late-onset (≥40 years old) type 2 diabetes at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital from January 2015-December 2017. Methods: This is a retrospective review of medical records. All adult patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria from January 2015 to December 2017 were included in the study. Data from charts were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The early-onset group had a mean age of 34 years, while the late-onset group had a mean age of 51 years. The early-onset diabetics were mostly obese, had higher HbA1c, worse lipid profiles, and had a positive family history of diabetes. Only a BMI of >27.50 kg/m2 was found to be a significant risk factor contributing to early-onset of diabetes. Myocardial infarction and nephropathy were more frequent in the late-onset group while retinopathy was more common in the early-onset group. Lastly, only retinopathy and neuropathy were significantly associated with longer duration of diabetes. Conclusion: The mean age of Filipinos was at least 5 years younger than the studies done on Caucasians. Most patients in the early-onset group were obese and had worse metabolic profiles. Retinopathy was more common in the early-onset group, while myocardial infarction and neuropathy were more common in the latter.