Cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes in youth

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in youth has increased dramatically over the past decades. The literature also suggests that the progression from an impaired glucose tolerance state to established T2DM is more rapid in youth, compared to adults. The presence of significant cardiovascular complications in youth with T2DM, including cardiac, macrovascular, and microvascular remodeling, is another major issue in this younger cohort and poses a significant threat to the healthcare system. However, this issue is only now emerging as a major public health concern, with few data to support optimal treatment targets and strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in youth with T2DM. Accordingly, the purpose of this minireview is to better understand the cardiovascular complications in youth with T2DM. We briefly describe the pathophysiology from youth studies, including oxidative stress, inflammation, renin-angiotensin aldosterone system, and epigenetics, which link T2DM and CVD. We also describe the literature concerning the early signs of CVD in youth and potential treatment options to reduce cardiovascular risk.