Affiliations 

  • 1 University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA, LYNCHJ2@uthscsa.edu
  • 2 Pediatric Endocrinology, Angeles Hospital of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
  • 3 Diabetes and Endocrinology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
  • 4 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Novosibirsk Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
  • 6 Diabetes Research Society, Hyderabad, India
  • 7 Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical School, Salzburg, Austria
Ann Nutr Metab, 2020;76(5):289-296.
PMID: 32980841 DOI: 10.1159/000510499

Abstract

BACKGROUND: With increased awareness of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents, an overview of country-specific differences in epidemiology data is needed to develop a global picture of the disease development.

SUMMARY: This study examined country-specific prevalence and incidence data of youth-onset T2D published between 2008 and 2019, and searched for national guidelines to expand the understanding of country-specific similarities and differences. Of the 1,190 articles and 17 congress abstracts identified, 58 were included in this review. Our search found the highest reported prevalence rates of youth-onset T2D in China (520 cases/100,000 people) and the USA (212 cases/100,000) and lowest in Denmark (0.6 cases/100,000) and Ireland (1.2 cases/100,000). However, the highest incidence rates were reported in Taiwan (63 cases/100,000) and the UK (33.2 cases/100,000), with the lowest in Fiji (0.43 cases/100,000) and Austria (0.6 cases/100,000). These differences in epidemiology data may be partly explained by variations in the diagnostic criteria used within studies, screening recommendations within national guidelines and race/ethnicity within countries. Key Messages: Our study suggests that published country-specific epidemiology data for youth-onset T2D are varied and scant, and often with reporting inconsistencies. Finding optimal diagnostic criteria and screening strategies for this disease should be of high interest to every country.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.