The epidemiology of diabetes (DM) and subsequent development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well-studied. Less is known about the development/course of DM in adults with preexisting CVD. We hypothesized that incidence of DM in these adults varies by age. We analyzed waves 1993-2014 of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally-representative health survey. Our study sample included adults ≥50 years (n=27,650) not having CVD or DM at entry. Age of CVD-onset was defined as age when respondent first reported CVD diagnosis. We classified adults who developed CVD into 3 age of CVD-onset groups (years): 50-59, 60-69, ≥70. For each group, we constructed a propensity-score-matched control group of respondents not having CVD. We compared risk of developing DM for each age of CVD-onset group and its matched control. Of all respondents, 683 developed CVD at 50-59 years, 1,609 at 60-69, and 3,253 at ≥70; 22,105 never developed CVD. Adults diagnosed with CVD at 50-59 years had substantial increased risk of DM: incidence risk ratio (IRR) 1.5 (1.1, 2.0). CVD diagnosis at 60-69 years also had increased risk of DM: IRR 1.2 (1.0, 1.5). CVD diagnosis at ≥70 years had no increased risk of DM: IRR 1.1 (0.9, 1.4). (Figure) Age of CVD diagnosis differentially impacts the risk of subsequent development of DM in middle-age and older adults. The relationship between DM and CVD is complex, with the role of prevalent CVD on DM incidence/course incompletely understood.
C. Cigolle: None. C. Blaum: None. J. Szymonifka: None. M. Kabeto: None. J. Ha: None. J. Zhong: None.
National Institutes of Health (AG054467-01)
