Age at prediabetes diagnosis a key factor for risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, study indicates

In addition, new research has revealed that the risk of type 2 diabetes is lower in those aged 75 years or older.

Previous research has indicated that elevated blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.  

In this study, the team of researchers examined the health records of 328,049 adults in England who were diagnosed with prediabetes between January 1998 and November 2018.

Each individual was tracked from the time of their prediabetes diagnosis until they developed type 2 diabetes, cancer or died.

In 10 years, 12 per cent of men diagnosed with prediabetes at age 75 or older went on to develop type 2 diabetes or cancer, the study has reported.

Meanwhile, 24 per cent of men diagnosed with prediabetes before the age of 55 went on to develop one of these conditions, according to the results.

The research also revealed that the likelihood of death following a prediabetes diagnosis varied significantly by age, ranging from 1.2 per cent among women diagnosed before age 55 to 38.7 per cent among women diagnosed after age 75.

Among men diagnosed with prediabetes, the likelihood of developing cancer ranged from 1.9 per cent for those under 55 to 7.8 per cent for those diagnosed between 65 and 75 years. The findings also indicate that developing type 2 diabetes had only a modest impact on an individual’s risk of cancer compared to prediabetes. 

The research was funded by the NIHR ARC East Midlands, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Hope Against Cancer.

Dr Francesco Zaccardi, Honorary Consultant in Cardiometabolic Medicine and Associate Professor in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Data Science at the University of Leicester and lead author of the study, said: “Our findings highlight the importance age when looking at prediabetic patients and determining the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes or cancer, both more common in individuals with prediabetes.

“Importantly, proactive lifestyle and clinical interventions can help individuals maintain stable glucose level or even revert from prediabetes state to normal glucose levels.”

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Director of the NIHR ARC East Midlands and the Real World Evidence Unit, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester and senior author of the research paper, said: “Our findings reveal a striking age-related difference in how prediabetes progresses.

“Older adults diagnosed with prediabetes face a higher risk of death or of developing type 2 diabetes or cancer, while younger individuals have a greater chance of remaining in a stable prediabetes state. This highlights the importance of targeted strategies to support people at different stages of life and manage their long-term health risks.”

To read the full paper, click here.