The Relationship Between Age at Diabetes Onset and Clinical Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: A Real-World Two-Center Study.

Purpose: This study was developed with the goal of clarifying whether there is any relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) age of onset and clinical outcomes for patients in National Metabolic Management Centers (MMC).

Patients and methods: From September 2017 - June 2022, 864 total T2DM patients were recruited in MMC and assigned to those with early-onset and late-onset diabetes (EOD and LOD) based on whether their age at disease onset was ≤ 40 or > 40 years. All patients received standardized management. Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from these two groups of patients were assessed. Associations between onset age and other factors were evaluated with a multivariate linear regression approach, adjusting for appropriate covariates. Outcomes in particular subgroups were also assessed in stratified analyses.

Results: Markers of dysregulated glucose metabolism and BMI values were significantly higher among EOD patients as compared to LOD patients. Subjects in both groups exhibited significant improvements in several disease-related parameters on 1-year follow-up after undergoing metabolic management. EOD patients exhibited significantly greater percentage reductions in HbA1c levels (-28.49 (-44.26, -6.45)% vs -13.70 (-30.15,-1.60)%, P =0.017) relative to LOD patients following adjustment for confounders. Significant differences were also detected between these groups when focused on subgroups of patients who were male, exhibited a BMI ≥ 25, an HbA1c ≥ 9, or had a follow-up frequency < 2.

Conclusion: Data from a 1-year follow-up time point suggest that a standardized metabolic disease management model can promote effective metabolic control in newly diagnosed T2DM patients, particularly among individuals with EOD.