Difference between old and young adults in contribution of β‐cell function and sarcopenia in developing diabetes mellitus

Aims/Introduction

To investigate the difference in contributing factors in developing diabetes between old and young adults.

Materials and Methods

Subjects with recent‐onset diabetes were selected from a nationwide survey data and classified according to age: elderly (age ≥75 years), middle‐age (age 45–64 years) and young (age 25–39 years). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β‐cell function were calculated. Sarcopenia was assessed using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry.

Results

The prevalence of recent‐onset diabetes was 13.5%, 8.0%, and 1.4% in patients aged ≥75 years (unweighted n = 1,082), 45–64 years (unweighted n = 6,532), and 25–39 years (unweighted n = 5,178), respectively. Homeostasis model assessment of β‐cell function along with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance showed increasing trends as onset age increased in recent‐onset diabetes (P for trend < 0.001 in both). Elderly‐onset diabetic patients had significantly higher homeostasis model assessment of β‐cell function and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance compared with the middle‐age‐onset group (P < 0.001 and 0.014, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia was significantly associated with recent‐onset diabetes only in patients aged ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.478, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.379–4.452) but not in patients aged 45–64 years. In the middle‐age group, abdominal obesity (OR 2.933, 95% CI 2.086–4.122), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.529, 95% CI 1.078–2.169]) and low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterolemia (OR 1.930, 95% CI 1.383–2.695) were associated with recent‐onset diabetes.

Conclusions

Elderly‐onset diabetic patients had higher insulin resistance and relatively preserved β‐cell function compared with middle‐age‐onset patients. Sarcopenia might play a more important role in developing diabetes in the elderly population.