November 12, 2024
2 minute read
Important points:
- The increased risk of death based on low income was greatest for adults under 40.
- Factors contributing to this may include decreased treatment adherence and less frequent medical visits.
Low income corresponds to a higher risk of death in people with type 2 diabetes, says a South Korea-based cohort analysis. JAMA network open he suggested.
Researchers say the association between mortality risk and income is strongest for adults under 40.
“[Income] It is an important socio-economic indicator that affects an individual's health. ” Dr. Kim Ji-yoon, Professors at Korea University School of Medicine and colleagues wrote: “Low income is associated with a higher risk of poor glycemic control, complications, and poor regulation of cardiovascular risk factors.”
Previous research has documented income-based disparities among people with diabetes, but differences in health outcomes based on socioeconomic status between younger and older people with type 2 diabetes are poorly understood. “has not been studied,” the researchers wrote.
In this study, Kim et al. examined a cohort of 1,240,780 adults (604,975 of whom were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes) and analyzed all-cause mortality, cancer-related mortality, and cardiovascular mortality based on income status across three ages. The risk of associated mortality was determined. group.
The researchers found that the adjusted OR for all-cause mortality was 1.47 (95% CI, 1.44-1.5) for adults with low-income type 2 diabetes and 1.79 (95% CI, 1.75-1) for middle-income adults with type 2 diabetes. 1.83). 2.03 (95% CI, 1.99-2.08) income in patients with type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia;
Researchers found that all-cause mortality was lower in low-income adults with type 2 diabetes aged 20 to 39 years (adjusted HR = 2.88; 95% CI, 2.25 to 3.69) and 40 to 59 years (aHR = 1.9; 95%). found that there is a high risk of CI, 1.81-2) and ages 60 to 79 (aHR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.23-1.29) versus high income earners.
They also compared with adults aged 20 to 39 years (aHR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.3-5.42) and 60 to 79 years (aHR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.25-1.39) and higher incomes.
Kim et al. further found that the aHR for cancer mortality was 1.46 (95% CI, 0.92 to 2.33) for low-income individuals aged 20 to 39 years and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.24) for low-income individuals aged 60 years. He pointed out that. Comparison between people up to age 79 and people with high incomes.
Further analysis showed similar mortality risk between men and women.
The researchers acknowledged some limitations to the study. For example, there may be residual confounding factors and the sample was entirely composed of Koreans, which may result in a lack of general applicability to other countries.
“Given South Korea's high level of health care access, deeper disparities may be observed in other countries lacking such conditions,” they write.
Kim et al. also highlighted a variety of factors that may contribute to higher mortality risk in young adults, including lower diabetes treatment adherence, less frequent health checkups, and differences in treatment after atherosclerotic CVD occurs. did.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that “further efforts should be made at societal and national levels to reduce disparities in health outcomes according to socio-economic status for young people with type 2 diabetes.”