Trajectories in HbA1c and other risk factors among adults with type 1 diabetes by age at onset

• In type 1 diabetes, potential loss of life-years is greatest in those who are youngest at the time of onset. Using data from a nationwide cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes, we aimed to study risk factor trajectories by age at diagnosis. We stratified 30005 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 18–75 years into categories based on age at onset: 0–10, 11–15, 16–20, 21–25, and 26–30 years. HbA1c, albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), body mass index (BMI), low-denisty lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure trends were analyzed using mixed models. Variable importance for baseline HbA1c was analyzed using conditional random forest and gradient boosting machine approaches. Individuals aged ≥16 years at onset displayed a relatively low mean HbA1c level (~55–57mmol/mol) that gradually increased. In contrast, individuals diagnosed at ≤15 years old entered adulthood with a mean HbA1c of approximately 70mmol/mol. For all groups, HbA1c levels stabilized at a mean of approximately 65mmol/mol by about 40 years old. In patients who were young at the time of onset, albuminuria appeared at an earlier age, suggesting a more rapid decrease in eGFR, while there were no distinct differences in BMI, SBP, and LDL-cholesterol trajectories between groups. Low education, higher age, and poor risk factor control were associated with higher HbA1c levels. Young age at the diabetes onset plays a substantial role in subsequent glycemic control and the presence of albuminuria, where patients with early onset may accrue a substantial glycemic load during this period. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

albuminuria

cardiovascular system

diabetes mellitus

glycated hemoglobin A

type 1

hemoglobin A1c

low density lipoprotein cholesterol

glycosylated hemoglobin

adolescent

adult

aged

albumin to creatinine ratio

Article

body mass

diastolic blood pressure

estimated glomerular filtration rate

female

glycemic control

glycemic load

human

insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

macroalbuminuria

male

microalbuminuria

onset age

systolic blood pressure

risk factor

Age of Onset

Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1

Humans

Risk Factors

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)