Type 2 diabetes in young South Asian patients leads to increased cardiovascular comorbidity and decreased survival

Introduction: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in SouthAsianpopulations is increasing significantly particularly in younger agegroups. Evidence is lacking regarding the prevalence ofcardiovascular comorbidities and their impact on health in youngSouthAsian patients with Type 2 diabetes compared withCaucasian populations.Methods: Anonymous information on patients with Type 2diabetes, comorbidities and mortality attending seven hospitals inManchester, UK, in the period 20002013 was obtained from thelocal health authority computerised hospital activity analysisregister. We evaluated Type 2 diabetes in SouthAsian andCaucasian patients between the ages of 20 and 60.Results: Of the Type 2 diabetes population of 68,194 (5.6%),there were 19,469 patients between the ages of 20 and 60 inSouth Asian and Caucasian groups. Of these, there were 4,918South Asian patients and 14,551 Caucasian patients. Mean age inthe South Asian group (48.1 years) was lower than in theCaucasian group (49.9 years; p < 0.05). Cardiovascularcomorbidities such as hyperlipidaemia (25.7% South Asian vs20.8% Caucasian), hypertension (49.8% South Asian vs 48.3%Caucasian), ischaemic heart disease (23.4% South Asian vs21.0% Caucasian) and myocardial infarction (5.9% SouthAsian vs 5.2% Caucasian) were higher in South Asiangroups. Heart failure (3.6% South Asian vs 4.4% Caucasian)and atrial fibrillation (1.8% South Asian vs 4.3% Caucasian)rates were higher in the Caucasian group. The average length ofhospital stay was significantly longer in the Caucasian group (4.1days) compared with the South Asian group (3.0 days). The meansurvival from first diagnosis to death in these patients wassignificantly lower in the South Asian group (2,078 days)compared with the Caucasian group (2,102 days).Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes in young South Asian patients leadsto increased cardiovascular comorbidity and decreased survivalcompared with Caucasian counterparts in the same age group whoare actually slightly older. In the context of increasing Type 2diabetes in patients of South Asian origin, these data suggest thatnew strategies are required to prevent healthcare debacles in theseyoung patients