DOC News May 1, 2005
Volume 2 Number 5 p. 14
© 2005 American Diabetes Association
Diabetes at a Younger Age
Diabetes is on the rise in the U.S., and some research suggests that it is
becoming more prevalent in younger people. A group of researchers from the
Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., reports an analysis
in the January/February Annals of Family Medicine showing that the
average age of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has decreased with time.
Richelle J. Koopman, MD, and colleagues performed an analysis of data from
the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000
and NHANES III, covering 1988–1994. According to their work, the mean
age of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes dropped from 52.0 years in the
1988–1994 period to 46.0 years in the 1999–2000 time frame. Racial
and ethnic differences noted in the earlier years are no longer seen,
according to the authors.
Several explanations may account for the observation. It's quite possible,
perhaps even likely, that diabetes is affecting younger populations in larger
numbers. The trend may also be due to changing diagnostic criteria, improved
recognition of diabetes among clinicians, and greater public awareness of the
health issues.
In any event, it's clear that diabetes is being detected in younger
patients, which may lead to more health benefits through earlier
treatment.
Koopman RJ, Mainous AG, Diaz VA, et al.: Changes in age at
diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States, 1988 to 2000.
Ann Fam Med 3:60–63, 2005.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
CiteULike 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
