A new study reports that young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes face a sharply higher risk of kidney disease, which lessens with older age at onset.
A study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism has found that individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) before age 40 face a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal failure compared to their non-diabetic peers. However, this risk declines with increasing age at diabetes onset.
Researchers analyzed health records from UK and Hong Kong cohorts between 2008 and 2013, including over 300,000 individuals with T2D and more than 8 million without diabetes. Participants were grouped by age at diagnosis, ranging from 18 to over 80 years.
Over a median follow-up of about 10 years, early-onset T2D (ages 18–39) was linked to nearly fivefold higher risk of kidney function decline and over fourfold higher risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared with non-diabetics. In contrast, patients diagnosed after age 80 showed much lower risk increases.
The findings underscore the urgent need for early screening and aggressive management of kidney health in young adults with T2D. Researchers suggest preventive strategies tailored to age at onset could help reduce long-term renal complications.
(Source:https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/early-onset-diabetes-may-raise-risk-kidney-disease-2025a1000tg5)