Diabetes Linked to 5-Fold Increased Mortality Risk in Young Adults

Children and young adults with diabetes have a 7-fold increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and 5-fold risk for all-cause mortality compared with the general population, according to the findings of a recent study.

For their study, the researchers calculated the mortality rates (MR) of persons living in Denmark aged 1 to 35 years in 2000 through 2009 and persons aged 46 to 49 years in 2007 through 2009. They used the Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics to identify individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and obtained the cause of death for 14,294 individuals from autopsy reports and death certificates. In addition, the researchers determined the MR ratio between those with and those without diabetes.
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A total of 669 (5%) persons with diabetes died, of whom 471 (70%) had type 1 and 198 (30%) had type 2.

Overall, the all-cause MR for individuals with diabetes was 235 persons per 100,000 person-years compared with 51 for those without diabetes (MR ratio 5).

The leading cause of death among individuals with diabetes was cardiac disease, which was attributed to 230 deaths (34%, MR ratio 8). Of those who died from cardiac disease, SCD accounted for 118 cases (MR ratio 7). SCD was caused by coronary artery disease in 18 persons (47%) and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in 10 persons (10%).

“Children and young adults with [diabetes] have a 5-fold increased all-cause MR and a 7-fold increased risk of SCD compared to age-matched persons without [diabetes],” the researchers concluded. “This study highlights the need for continuous cardiovascular risk monitoring and management in young persons with [diabetes].”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Svane J, Lynge TH, Pedersen-Bjergaard U, et al. Young persons with diabetes have a 7-fold increased risk of sudden cardiac death compared to persons without diabetes: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2017; November 11–15, 2017; Anaheim, CA. Abstract 20507.