Global, regional, and national burden of early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus among individuals aged 15 to 39 years between 1990 and 2021: Findings from the global burden of disease study 2021.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Ecological and secondary modeling analysis of population-level health data (GBD 2021)
PubMed 40958292 · doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044488
What was done
The authors analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to assess the incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals aged 15 to 39 years across global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021. They quantified the proportion of DALYs attributable to 15 risk factors and used projection modeling to forecast trends from 2022 to 2035.
What was found
Global counts of incident cases and DALYs increased between 1990 and 2021. The worldwide estimated annual percent change was 2.45% (95% CI: 2.38% to 2.53%) for the age-standardized incidence rate and 2.10% (95% CI: 2.01% to 2.18%) for the age-standardized DALYs rate. The burden was higher in males than in females. Low socio-demographic index (SDI) areas had the greatest growth in case counts, while middle-SDI areas had the largest values in 2021. High body mass index was the leading risk factor for DALYs globally and regionally. Both age-standardized incidence and DALY rates were projected to continue increasing through 2035.
Why it matters
This study highlights a worsening global public health challenge in adolescents and young adults, demonstrating that early-onset T2DM rates are accelerating worldwide, particularly in developing economies and among individuals with high BMI.
Limits
The study relies entirely on modeled GBD 2021 estimates, which are subject to variations and gaps in primary diagnostic and registry data across low- and middle-income countries. Specific absolute case counts, raw participant numbers, and granular statistical metrics are not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Diseases traditionally associated with aging, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, are increasingly occurring in teenagers and young adults in their 20s and 30s.