Incidence and Factors Associated with Dyslipidemia in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A 4-Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia is a common comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and is a significant factor leading to complications and reduced quality of life.

Objective: To determine the incidence and study the factors associated with the development of dyslipidemia in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled data from the 43-file database covering Healthcare Region 10. New onset type 2 diabetic patients (ICD10: E11X) diagnosed between 2015 and 2017 were followed for 4 years to determine the incidence of dyslipidemia (ICD10: E78X). Associated factors were analyzed using a parametric survival model. Time ratio (TR) was reported.

Results: Of the 80,001 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients who met the inclusion criteria, 49,528 (61.91%) were female, and the mean ± SD age was 57.37 ± 12.31 years. The incidence rate of dyslipidemia was 350.58 episodes per 1,000 person-years. Factors significantly associated with the earlier development of dyslipidemia were age diagnosed with T2DM (TR = 0.918, p-value<0.001), being male (TR = 0.965, p-value<0.001), having hypertension (TR = 0.976, p-value=0.007). In contrast, current age (TR = 1.092; p-value<0.001) and a history of hypertension prior to diabetes diagnosis (TR = 1.048; p-value=0.002) were associated with a longer time to dyslipidemia.

Conclusion: Among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, older age at diabetes diagnosis, male sex, and hypertension were associated with a shorter time to dyslipidemia, whereas current age and prior hypertension were associated with a longer time to dyslipidemia. These findings highlight the importance of systematic screening and appropriate management of dyslipidemia among high-risk T2DM patients.