Age-related differences in glycaemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors and treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study from the Australian National Diabetes Audit

Abstract

Objective

To compare the glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factor profiles of younger and older patients with type 2 diabetes. Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2015 Australian National Diabetes Audit was undertaken.

Methods

Data were obtained from adults with type 2 diabetes presenting to Australian secondary/tertiary diabetes centres. Logistic regression examined associations with glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7% (53 mmol/mol) and cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

Data from 3492 patients were analysed. Mean (±SD) age was 62.9±12.5 years, mean diabetes duration 13.5±9.4 years and mean HbA1c 8.2%±1.8%. Mean HbA1c was 8.6%±2.1% and 8.0%±1.6% for the younger (<60 years) and older subgroups (≥60 years), respectively (p<0.001). The adjusted OR (aOR) of HbA1c above >7.0% was 1.5 times higher (95% CI 1.22 to 1.84) for younger patients compared with older patients after adjustment for gender, smoking, diabetes duration, renal function and body mass index. Younger patients were also more likely to have dyslipidaemia (aOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.68; p<0.001), be obese (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.49; p<0.001) and be current smokers (aOR 2.13 95% CI 1.64 to 2.77; p<0.001) than older patients.

Conclusions

Younger age was associated with poorer glycaemic control and adverse cardiovascular risk factor profiles. It is imperative to optimise and monitor treatment in order to improve long-term outcomes.

Strengths and limitations of this study.

• Large dataset of patients from a nationwide survey.

• Information on a broad range of variables with potential impact on glycaemic, blood pressure and lipid control.

• We were unable to conduct longitudinal analyses as the data were de-identified and the cross-sectional nature of the analysis precluded investigation of causality.

• Study population may largely represent a specialist referred patient group as the majority of patients were receiving care at tertiary diabetes centres.

Introduction

Driven by ageing populations, increasing obesity and decreasing physical activity, the prevalence of diabetes is expected to rise by 55% to 592 million individuals worldwide by 2035.¹ Traditionally a disease of middle and older age, type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in younger patients.^{2 3} Diabetes and its complications contribute to 10% of Australian deaths⁴ and 8.4% of deaths worldwide.⁵

The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicated that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased by 70% in people aged 20–44 years in the last three decades, making younger adults the fastest growing group of people with type 2 diabetes.⁶ Diabetes complications are related to duration and degree of glycaemic control,⁷ thus, younger people with diabetes who start their hyperglycaemic exposure at an earlier age may be at highest risk for end-organ damage. However, few studies have compared glycaemic control in younger and older patients with type 2 diabetes.^{8 9} Further, these studies were largely conducted within selected trial cohorts (and as such the patients examined may differ from community-based cohorts) and have reported variable findings of better glycaemic control in older patients,¹⁰ in younger patients¹¹ or no effect of age.¹²

We hypothesised that there may be age-related differences in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes, which may contribute to excess cardiovascular risk in younger patients. This study investigates differences in the achieved levels and management of¹ glycaemic control and² cardiovascular risk factors between younger and older patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Participants

This national, cross-sectional study examined de-identified data from the 2015 Australian National Diabetes Audit (ANDA).¹³ Participants were adult patients with type 2 diabetes, presenting to 1 of 49 diabetes centres nationwide. De-identified data were sourced from a range of diabetes centres located in the community/primary care (n=16) and secondary care (n=33), with patients under the care of endocrinologists, general specialists and local general practitioners. The state and territory location of participating sites is presented in online supplementary data. Information was collected regarding all consecutive patients attending a participating diabetes centre during the 1-month survey period (May or June 2015).

Variables

Prespecified demographic (gender, date of birth) and clinical variables (diabetes complications, comorbid conditions, blood pressure (BP), glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), smoking status, medications) were collected for patients with type 2 diabetes. Health professionals from participating centres examined patients, reviewed medical records including pathology results and recorded the information in a standardised data collection form. All missing data, invalid entries and discrepancies were clarified with the patients’ treating centres. As per the a priori analysis plan, age at survey was calculated as date of survey (2015) minus date of birth and categorised as <60 years or ≥60 years, diabetes duration was calculated as date of survey minus date of diabetes diagnosis and categorised as <10 years or ≥10 years. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI. Smoking status was categorised as never, previous or current. Recent pathology results (within the last 12 months) were recorded for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TGs), HbA1c and serum creatinine; calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation.¹⁴

Outcomes

The main outcome variables were HbA1c (categorised as >7.0%, 53 mmol/mol), hypertension (defined as >140 and/or 90 mm Hg), dyslipidaemia (defined as either TC >4.0 mmol/L, HDL <1.0 mmol/L, LDL >2.0 mmol/L or TG >2.0 mmol/L), obesity (defined as BMI >30 kg/m²) and smoker (categorised as never, past or current). The targets were based on the current Australian recommendations for people with diabetes as per the Australian Heart Foundation.¹⁵

Statistical analysis

Categorical variables were summarised as percentages and differences between subgroups analysed using χ² test. Continuous variables were tested for normality to determine the most appropriate method for statistical analysis (parametric or non-parametric) and reported as means with SD or as medians with IQR. Subgroup analyses were performed using analysis of variance for normally distributed data and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed data as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to examine factors (current age, diabetes duration, gender, smoking, calculated eGFR, BMI) associated with HbA1c, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity (as the categories defined above). The selection of variables was based on identifying all measured clinical variables of known or suspected prognostic importance for the outcomes of interest and/or exhibiting a p≤0.10 on univariable analysis. All potential confounding variables were included in the multivariable models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the effect of treatments (yes or no) including insulin, antihypertensive therapy and lipid-lowering therapy in patients above the glycaemic, lipid and BP targets. A prescribing gap was defined as patients who were not prescribed the relevant medications despite being above the recommended targets. A treatment gap was defined as patients who were above the recommended targets despite being on treatment. Sensitivity analyses (1) examined the effect of excluding patients with less than 2 years diabetes duration, who may have not yet had opportunity to modify treatment and achieve targets and (2) examined the effect of centre type (community/primary and secondary care) or clustering by centre. Patients were excluded from a particular analysis when data relevant to that analysis were missing, but were not excluded from other analyses where appropriate information was provided. Missing data of variables were less than 10% and not imputed. A two-sided significance level of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed using Stata software V.14.2 (StataCorp).

Patient and public involvement

This research has been reviewed by the ANDA scientific advisory committee, which consists of clinical and public representatives with an interest in best practice diabetes healthcare.

Results

Overall

Data from 3492 patients (>18 years of age) were analysed. Patients from all states and territories were included (online supplementary table 1). Younger patients (<60 years) accounted for 38% (n=1328) of patients. The clinical characteristics of these patients, stratified by age, are shown in table 1. The mean (±SD) age of the whole group was 62.9±12.5 years and the mean ages of the younger and older age groups were 50.1±8.4 years and 70.7±7.0 years, respectively. Mean diabetes duration was 9.6±7.5 years for the younger age group and 15.9±9.6 years for the older age group (p<0.001). There was a higher proportion of male patients in the older (56.5%) compared with the younger age group (49.5%, p<0.001). The majority of patients (64.9%) were treated at tertiary hospitals followed by community or primary care centres (35.1%). Australian birth was reported by 68.1% of the younger age group and 62.4% of the older age group (p=0.001). Microvascular and macrovascular complications were prevalent in 35.3% and 21.6% of the younger age group and 49.3% and 43.4% of the older age group, respectively (p<0.001 for both).

Table 1.

Characteristics of study participants

Characteristic†	Age		P values
	<60 years	≥60 years
	n=1328	n=2164
Age to 2015 (years)	50.1 (8.4)	70.7 (7.0)	<0.001
Male	650 (49.5)	1208 (56.5)	<0.001
Age when diabetes first diagnosed (years)	40.6 (9.4)	54.9 (10.6)	<0.001
Diabetes duration (years)	9.6 (7.5)	15.9 (9.6)	<0.001
HbA1c (%)	8.6 (2.1)	8.0 (1.6)	<0.001
Cardiovascular risk factors
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)	130.5 (18.1)	134.1 (18.6)	<0.001
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)	77.7 (10.5)	72.6 (10.2)	<0.001
Current smoker	235 (20.2)	161 (8.9)
Past smoker	350 (30.1)	713 (39.4)
Never smoker	577 (49.7)	936 (51.7)
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)	4.6 (1.3)	4.0 (1.1)	<0.001
LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)	2.4 (1.6)	2.0 (0.9)	<0.001
HDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)	1.1 (0.4)	1.1 (0.4)	0.010
Triglyceride (mmol/L)	2.5 (2.4)	2.1 (1.7)	<0.001
Serum creatinine (μmol/L)	89.5 (91.7)	109.5 (91.3)	<0.001
eGFR mL/min/1.73 m2	89.3 (35.9)	65.9 (27.1)	<0.001
Body mass index (kg/m2)	34.5 (8.4)	32.4 (6.7)	<0.001
Treatments
Diet alone	65 (4.9)	77 (3.6)	0.052
Oral glucose lowering agents	1050 (79.1)	1634 (75.5)	0.013
Non-insulin injectable glucose lowering agents	94 (7.1)	98 (4.5)	0.003
Insulin	769 (57.9)	1348 (62.3)	0.010
Cardiovascular disease
Microvascular complications	414 (35.3)	950 (49.3)	<0.001
Macrovascular complications	247 (21.6)	847 (43.4)	<0.001

Microvascular complications defined as retinopathy, nephropathy or peripheral neuropathy.

Macrovascular complications defined as either cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease.

*Categorical variables were presented as n (%) and continuous variables as mean (SD) or median (IQR), as appropriate.

†Categorical variables were assessed with the χ² test. Continuous variables were tested for normality, analyses were performed using analysis of variance for normally distributed data and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed data.

eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin A1c; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.

Glycaemic control

Mean HbA1c was 8.2%±1.8% for the group overall, 8.6%±2.1% and 8.0%±1.6% for the younger and older age groups, respectively (p<0.001). A greater proportion of patients in the younger age group had an HbA1c above 7.0% compared with the older age group (table 1, figure 1). On univariable analysis, age, diabetes duration, gender, smoking and BMI were all associated with an HbA1c above 7.0%. The unadjusted and adjusted ORs (95% CI) for HbA1c above 7.0% were 1.26 (1.07 to 1.49; p<0.001) and 1.50 (1.22 to 1.84; p<0.001) respectively, for younger patients compared with older patients (table 2, figure 1).

Figure 1.

Risks of adverse cardiovascular risk factor levels in patients with type 2 diabetes by age group. HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin A1c.

Table 2.

Unadjusted and adjusted odds of factors associated with suboptimal glycaemic control and adverse cardiovascular risk factor levels

	HbA1c above target (7.0%, 53 mmol/mol)				Hypertension †				Dyslipidaemia‡				Obesity§				Current smoker
	Univariable analysis		Multivariable analysis*		Univariable analysis		Multivariable analysis*		Univariable analysis		Multivariable analysis*		Univariable analysis		Multivariable analysis*		Univariable analysis		Multivariable analysis*
	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values	OR (95% CI)	P values
Age
≥60 years (ref)
<60 years	1.26 (1.07 to 1.49)	0.005	1.50 (1.22 to 1.84)	<0.001	0.81 (0.70 to 0.95)	0.008	0.85 (0.70 to 1.04)	0.119	2.41 (1.91 to 3.03)	<0.001	2.02 (1.53 to 2.68)	<0.001	1.26 (1.09 to 1.46)	0.002	1.25 (1.05 to 1.49)	0.011	2.60 (2.09 to 3.22)	<0.001	2.13 (1.64 to 2.77)	<0.001
Duration of diabetes
<10 years (ref)
≥10 years	2.05 (1.74 to 2.40)	<0.001	2.51 (2.07 to 3.03)	<0.001	1.16 (0.99 to 1.35)	0.067	1.03 (0.85 to 1.25)	0.735	0.66 (0.53 to 0.81)	<0.001	0.79 (0.60 to 1.03)	0.087	1.04 (0.90 to 1.20)	0.597			0.59 (0.48 to 0.73)	<0.001	0.82 (0.64 to 1.06)	0.124
Sex
Male (ref)
Female	1.18 (1.01 to 1.38)	0.039	1.16 (0.97 to 1.39)	0.100	1.02 (0.88 to 1.18)	0.828	0.87 (0.73 to 1.04)	0.129	0.76 (0.62 to 0.92)	0.005	0.70 (0.55 to 0.90)	0.005	1.34 (1.16 to 1.54)	<0.001	1.38 (1.16 to 1.63)	<0.001	0.70 (0.56 to 0.87)	0.001	0.70 (0.55 to 0.89)	0.004
Smoking
Never (ref)
Past	1.09 (0.9 to 1.32)	0.368			0.93 (0.79 to 1.10)	0.418	0.90 (0.74 to 1.09)	0.287	1.10 (0.87 to 1.38)	0.419	1.01 (0.77 to 1.32)	0.947	1.44 (1.22 to 1.71)	<0.001	1.63 (1.35 to 1.96)	<0.001
Current	1.09 (0.84 to 1.42)	0.512			0.65 (0.50 to 0.84)	0.001	0.72 (0.54 to 0.96)	0.024	1.73 (1.18 to 2.52)	0.005	1.32 (0.87 to 1.99)	0.187	0.93 (0.74 to 1.17)	0.517	0.92 (0.72 to 1.18)	0.525
eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) (per unit)	1.00 (0.99 to 1.00)	0.073	1.00 (1.00 to 1.01)	0.034	1.00 (0.99 to 1.00)	0.001	1.00 (0.99 to 1.00)	0.008	1.00 (1.00 to 1.01)	0.144			1.00 (1.00 to 1.00)	0.307			1.01 (1.01 to 1.01)	<0.001	1.01 (1.00 to 1.01)	0.001
BMI (kg/m2) (per unit)	1.03 (1.02 to 1.04)	<0.001	1.03 (1.02 to 1.04)	<0.001	1.02 (1.01 to 1.03)	<0.001	1.02 (1.01 to 1.03)	0.001	1.02 (1.01 to 1.04)	0.004	1.02 (1.00 to 1.03)	0.077					0.98 (0.97 to 1.00)	0.017	0.97 (0.95 to 0.99)	0.001
HbA1c (%) (per unit)					1.03 (0.99 to 1.07)	0.156			1.18 (1.11 to 1.26)	<0.001	1.14 (1.05 to 1.23)	0.001	1.07 (1.03 to 1.12)	0.001	1.05 (1.00 to 1.10)	0.049

*Multivariable analyses are, where appropriate, adjusted for gender, diabetes duration, smoking, eGFRs, BMI and HbA1c.

†Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg.

‡Dyslipidaemia is defined as either total cholesterol >4.0 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein <1.0 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein >2.0 mmol/L or triglycerides >2.0 mmol/L.

§Obesity is defined as BMI >30 kg/m².

BMI, body mass index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin A1c.

Glycaemic management was reported as diet only by 4%, oral agents by 77%, non-insulin injectable therapy by 5% and insulin alone or in combination with oral agents by 61% of patients. Compared with older patients, younger patients were equally likely to not be on insulin treatment despite an HbA1c >8.0%, after adjusting for gender, diabetes duration, renal function and BMI (online supplementary table 2).

Hypertension

Mean systolic BP was 130±18 mm Hg and 134±18 mm Hg for the younger and older age groups, respectively (p<0.001). A smaller proportion of patients in the younger age group were hypertensive compared with the older age group (table 1, figure 1). Younger patients were less likely to be hypertensive compared with older patients (unadjusted OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.95; p=0.008). However, after adjusting for gender, smoking, renal function and BMI, this effect was no longer significant (adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.04; p=0.119) (table 2).

The overall study population prescribing and treatment gaps for hypertension were 5% and 25%, respectively (figure 2). Younger patients who were hypertensive were more likely to not be on BP lowering medication (prescribing gap) than older patients who were hypertensive (adjusted OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.92; p=0.002) (online supplementary table 2). There were no differences noted in the prescribing and treatment gaps for hypertension when male and female patients were considered separately (data not shown).

Figure 2.

Blood pressure (BP) (1) and lipid management (2) gaps in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Dyslipidaemia

The majority of patients in both age groups had abnormal lipid profiles, but a greater proportion of patients in the younger than older age group had dyslipidaemia (table 1, figure 1). On univariable analysis, age, diabetes duration, gender, smoking, BMI and HbA1c were associated with dyslipidaemia. The unadjusted and adjusted ORs (95% CI) for dyslipidaemia were 2.41 (1.91 to 3.03; p<0.001) and 2.02 (1.53 to 2.68; p<0.001), respectively, for younger patients compared with older patients (table 2).

The overall study population prescribing and treatment gaps for dyslipidaemia were 22% and 60%, respectively (figure 2). Younger patients with dyslipidaemia were more likely to not be on lipid-lowering medication (prescribing gap) than older patients with dyslipidaemia after adjustment for diabetes duration, gender, smoking, renal function and vascular disease (adjusted OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.90; p=0.002) (online supplementary table 2). There were no differences noted in the prescribing and treatment gaps for dyslipidaemia when male and female patients were considered separately (data not shown).

Obesity

Mean BMI was 34.5±8.4 kg/m² and 32.4±6.7 kg/m² for the younger and older age groups, respectively (p<0.001). A greater proportion of patients in the younger age group had a BMI in the obese category (>30 kg/m²) compared with the older age group (table 1, figure 2). On univariable analysis, age, gender and smoking were all associated with obesity. The unadjusted and adjusted ORs for obesity were 1.26 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.46; p=0.002) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.49; p=0.002) respectively, for younger patients compared with older (table 2).

Smoking

A greater proportion of patients in the younger age group reported being a current smoker compared with older patients (table 1, figure 1). On univariable analysis, age, diabetes duration, gender, BMI and renal function were all associated with current smoking. The unadjusted and adjusted ORs for current smoking were 2.60 (95% CI 2.09 to 3.22; p<0.001) and 2.13 (95% CI 1.64 to 2.77; p<0.001), respectively, for younger patients compared with older patients (table 2).

Sensitivity analysis

When patients with diabetes duration of 2 years or less (who may have not yet had opportunity to modify treatment practices and achieve targets) were excluded the associations were unchanged. Younger patients were still more likely to have an HbA1c over 7.0% (adjusted OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.00; p<0.001), dyslipidaemia (adjusted OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.53; p<0.001), be obese (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.55; p=0.010) and smokers (adjusted OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.92; p<0.001) than older patients after adjusting for diabetes duration, gender, renal function, BMI and HbA1c where appropriate (online supplementary table 3). Furthermore, the associations were similar when we adjusted the models for centre type (online supplementary table 4).

Discussion

In this large national cross-sectional study of community-living patients with type 2 diabetes, we found that younger patients with significantly shorter disease duration were less likely to achieve recommended targets for glycaemic control, BP and lipids than older patients. Younger patients were also more likely to be obese and to smoke. Of patients not achieving glycaemic, BP and lipid targets, younger rather than older patients were more likely to not be on therapy after adjustment for other relevant confounders. These findings remained after exclusion of patients with more recent diabetes onset who may have been relatively new to diabetes services and not yet had opportunity to attain treatment targets.

It is not clear why younger patients demonstrate poorer glycaemic control than older patients. Some evidence suggests that early-onset type 2 diabetes may be a more aggressive phenotype than later-onset type 2 diabetes, representing a greater predisposition to beta cell failure and diagnosis at an earlier age.¹⁶ Since younger patients had higher rates of obesity compared with older patients, this may have contributed to worsening insulin resistance, and a need for greater intensification of therapy to achieve optimal glycaemic control. Longer duration of diabetes is also known to be associated with poorer glycaemic control, possibly due to progressive β-cell impairment and reduced insulin secretion,¹⁷ which in turn reduces the effectiveness of diet alone or oral agents. However, in our study the younger age group had a shorter diabetes duration than the older age group such that longer disease duration could not explain the poorer glycaemic control.

The high prevalence of poor glycaemic control and adverse cardiovascular risk factors observed in younger patients is of great concern as cardiovascular disease accounts for over half of the mortality among people with type 2 diabetes.^{18 19} Given the risk for cardiovascular disease doubles when hypertension is also present in people with diabetes²⁰ and over a quarter of the patients in the younger age group had either systolic or diastolic hypertension, a review of the intensity of management is in order. This is supported by the larger prescribing and treatment gaps observed in the younger rather than older patients. In contrast, for older patients it is possible that clinicians’ concerns regarding hypotension and postural symptoms due to autonomic neuropathy may appropriately limit antihypertensive use.

Although the absolute differences in the lipid variables were not large between the younger and older age groups, it is noteworthy that among younger patients and in line with other international studies, 89% had abnormal lipids.²¹ High-density cholesterol levels, considered the best lipid predictor of cardiovascular disease,²² were significantly lower and TG levels significantly higher in younger patients compared with older patients suggestive of inadequate lipid management. The relative insulin deficiency seen in type 2 diabetes is known to impair the action of lipoprotein lipase, resulting in lower HDL levels and higher TG levels. However, the lower HDL and higher TG observed in younger patients cannot be attributed solely to the effect of hyperglycaemia as younger age remained independently associated with dyslipidaemia when HbA1c was included in the multivariable model. Another possible explanation is survivor effect bias whereby patients with normal lipid levels have survived longer (and into the older age group) compared with those with dyslipidaemia.

It is recognised that estimates of absolute cardiovascular risk (even for those with diabetes) are driven predominantly by age rather than modifiable risk factors.²³ Indeed, in our study the majority of patients in the younger age group would have low absolute cardiovascular risk despite significant risk factor burden. The Global Burden of Disease study reported that the maximum impact in terms of healthy life years gained or disability-adjusted life years averted with cardiovascular preventive therapies would be observed between 55 and 64 years.²⁴ However, vascular complications develop over many decades from a young age,²⁵ well before presentation with a potentially fatal event. Additionally, younger patients have higher modifiable risk (risk factors amenable to treatment) and longer future lifetime exposure for any particular absolute risk level when compared with older people. As highlighted by our findings, a major outstanding challenge is how best to implement use of evidence-based preventive therapies in younger patients and to effectively communicate risk of future events. Among newer approaches are the concepts of heart or vascular age²⁶ and of lifetime or modifiable risk, particularly in younger patients. This is consistent with the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommending assessment of lifetime risk in younger patients in addition to the traditional absolute risk assessment.²⁷

Other explanations for our findings include that younger patients may face more hurdles to glucose testing, regular physical activity, healthy diet and medication adherence whereas older patients may access medical care more frequently, may be more motivated to manage their medical conditions and may be more compliant with diet and medications.^28–30 Further research is required to understand the barriers to better glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk profiles faced by younger patients. These data are crucial to inform strategies to assist weight reduction, lifestyle modification and escalation of glycaemic, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapies. Such measures would particularly benefit younger patients with type 2 diabetes, given that the incidence of macrovascular complications and mortality increases with diabetes duration⁷ and is reduced with management of glycaemia and cardiovascular risk factors.^{18 19} Good glycaemic control earlier in the course of diabetes may also be imperative, as this is demonstrated to reduce complications in the long term.³¹

The proportion of patients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia in our study was similar to that reported in the population-based Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) study. However, the proportion of patients overall with an HbA1c target ≤7.0% was greater in our study than in the AusDiab study³² and the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study.⁸ In our study, younger patients had poorer glycaemic control with a mean diabetes duration approximately half that of older patients. Higher HbA1c levels have previously been independently associated with younger age.⁸ In contrast, the Australian general practice based NEFRON(National Evaluation of the Frequency of Renal impairment cO-existing with Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) study found that younger and more obese patients with a longer duration of diabetes had poor glycaemic control.⁹ The differences in these studies may be due to the varying sampling frames and population characteristics.

Similar to other studies investigating gender differences in the management of type 2 diabetes, we found that female patients were more likely to report poorer glycaemic control and higher rates of obesity than males.³³ However, contrary to other studies from Germany³⁴ and Italy,³⁵ male and female patients appeared to experience similar prescribing and treatment gaps of hypertension and dyslipidaemia in Australia. This may be due to cultural, behavioural, psychosocial and/or socioeconomic differences between these countries affecting access to healthcare and uptake of preventive measures.

A strength of this analysis is the large dataset of patients from a nationwide survey. Data were sourced from over half of the centres registered with the National Association of Diabetes centres (NADC) at the time. The participants of our study are likely to be similar to patients attending diabetes clinics throughout Australia. We obtained information on a broad range of variables with potential impact on glycaemic, BP and lipid control. Study limitations include that the majority of patients were receiving care at tertiary diabetes centres and may largely represent a specialist referred patient group. Referral bias is also possible. General practitioners may be more likely to refer younger patients while managing older patients with shorter diabetes duration. Alternatively, older patients with longer diabetes duration and interrelating comorbid conditions may also be more likely to be referred to specialist services. Another limitation was the reliance on self/healthcare worker reports as we were unable to independently verify diagnoses and treatments. This is unlikely to change the findings substantively, given previous studies have found approximately 90% of self-reported diabetes information to be valid.³⁶ We were unable to conduct longitudinal analyses as the data were de-identified and the cross-sectional nature of the analysis precluded investigation of causality.

Conclusion

In summary, younger patients with type 2 diabetes attending diabetes centres are burdened by poorer glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factor profiles compared with older patients. Of patients not achieving glycaemic, BP and lipid targets, younger patients were significantly more likely to not be on therapy or be above target despite treatment than older patients. Younger patients with diabetes may benefit from more targeted, evidence-based, multidisciplinary initiatives to achieve and maintain intensive glycaemic control and optimise cardiovascular risk factors. Such measures may minimise the incidence and severity of diabetes-related complications in younger patients with type 2 diabetes, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.