Association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depression with cardiovascular events in early-onset adult type 2 diabetes: a multi-ethnic study in the USA
<b>Objective: </b>To evaluate the temporal patterns of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM) and depression in White Caucasian (WC) and African American (AA) with early-onset type 2 diabetes, and their impact on long-term Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>From US electronic medical record, 101,104 AA and 505,336 WC subjects with type 2 diabetes diagnosis between 2000-2017 were identified (mean follow-up: 5.3 years). Among those without ASCVD at diagnosis, risk of ASCVD and MACE-3 (HF, myocardial infarction, or stroke) was evaluated between ethnicities by age groups. </p> <p><b>Results: </b>Proportion of patients diagnosed at <50 years increased during 2012-2017 (AA: 34-38%; WC: 26-29%). Depression prevalence increased during 2000-2017 (AA: 15-23%; WC: 20-34%) with an increasing trend for CM at diagnosis in both groups. </p> <p>Compared to WC, the adjusted MACE-3 risk was significantly higher in AA across all age groups, more pronounced in 18-39 years group (HR CI: 1.42-1.88) and in people with and without depression. AA had 17% (HR CI: 1.05-1.31) significantly higher adjusted ASCVD risk in the 18-39 years group only. Depression was independently associated with ASCVD and MACE-3 risk in both ethnic groups across all age groups. Other comorbidities were independently associated with ASCVD and MACE-3 risk only among WC. </p> <p><b>Conclusions: </b>AA have higher cardiovascular risk compared to WC, particularly in early-onset T2DM. CM and depression at diabetes diagnosis has been increasing over last two decades in both ethnic groups.<b> </b>Strategies for screening and optimal management of CM and depression particularly in early-onset T2DM may result in a lower cardiovascular risk. </p>