The research, published in eClinicalMedicine, part of The Lancet group, analyzes how the timing of diagnosis can alter the disease's prognosis. It compared 481,709 individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes against 1,398,836 individuals without the condition, using data from the Information System for Research Development in Primary Care (SIDIAP).
Results show that individuals diagnosed before 65 years face an 18% higher relative risk of heart failure after ten years compared to those diagnosed later. Among older adults, those diagnosed between 65 and 74 years have a 14% increased risk of ischemic heart disease, a 20% higher risk of heart failure, and a 16% greater mortality risk from any cause, relative to those diagnosed after 75.
Researchers from IDIAPJGol and the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, collaborating with national and international institutions, emphasize that these percentages reflect relative risk differences and do not imply low absolute risk for those diagnosed late. The burden of cardiovascular disease, mortality, and frailty remains high in these groups.
Berta Fernández Camins, the study's lead author, notes that observed differences might be influenced by shorter exposure to hyperglycemia in late diagnoses or by competing mortality. Despite the limitations of an observational study, sensitivity analyses maintain the general pattern of results.
Study coordinators Dídac Mauricio and Josep Franch Nadal stress that diagnosis age matters but must be interpreted within an individualized patient assessment, avoiding automatic undertreatment of older individuals.
This study, funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and AGAUR, coincides with World Heart Day (September 29th), which this year focuses on recognizing the warning signs of cardiovascular diseases, with type 2 diabetes being a major risk factor.
