Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2026 Apr 9:113259. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2026.113259. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between age at type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis and long-term mortalityand lifetime health loss.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data from the population-based CARRS cohort. T2D was defined by self-report, glucose-lowering medication use, or glycemic thresholds and categorized by age at diagnosis (20-29, 30-39, 40-59, or ≥60 years). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using time-dependent Cox models with participants without T2D as reference. Model-based projections estimated years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and excess life-years lost (LYL).
RESULTS: Among 21,574 participants (mean age 43.3 years), 6,265 had diabetes. Over 8.7 years median follow-up, 2,163 deaths. Younger age at T2D diagnosis was associated with higher risks of mortality and cardiovascular events. Adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 2.98 (95% CI 1.60-5.54) for diagnosis at 20-29 years, 2.28 (1.74-2.98) at 30-39 years, 1.73 (1.47-2.04) at 40-59 years, and 1.61 (1.30-1.99) at ≥60 years. Projected lifetime DALYs were greatest with younger diagnosis, ranging from 24.5 to 5.5 years, with similar patterns for excess LYL.Similar patterns were observed for CVD eventsacross age groups.
CONCLUSIONS: T2D diagnosed at a younger age was associated with higher mortalityand greater LYL in South Asians.
PMID:41966281 | DOI:10.1016/j.diabres.2026.113259