Published online Mar 15, 2023. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i3.290
Peer-review started: November 15, 2022
First decision: January 3, 2023
Revised: January 15, 2023
Accepted: February 14, 2023
Article in press: February 14, 2023
Published online: March 15, 2023
Processing time: 120 Days and 14.4 Hours
Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a state of hyperglycemia due to a defect in the secretion and/or action of insulin, and it represents the most common form of diabetes worldwide. In Mexico, 10.3% of the adult population have been diagnosed with T2DM and it is expanding to the pediatric population.
To evaluate and compare the prevalence of T2DM in the pediatric population at the Children’s Hospital, “Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG)”, at two time periods: 2013 vs 2018.
A comparison of two cross-sectional studies was done (2013 and 2018). The study population was comprised of children and adolescents 8-17 years old, from the Diabetes Clinic at the aforementioned institution. A comprehensive interrogation regarding family history and perinatal antecedents was performed. Complete blood work after 12 h of fasting was obtained to determine serum levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, C-peptide, and insulin. The data were analysed using the statistical software package SPSS v. 23.0. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
A total of 151 patients were included: 47 from 2013, and 104 from 2018. There were age differences noted between the two periods with younger patients presenting T2DM in 2013. Also, T2DM predominated in the male sex in 55.36% in 2013 vs 32.7% in 2018. An increased prevalence of T2DM was noted from 2013 to 2018 (20.2% vs 33.0%, respectively), which was a statistically significant 12.8% increase (P < 0.0001). The illness phenotype was more aggressive in the 2018 group with the presence of a higher proportion of obesity, insulin resistance, and adverse lipid profiles.
The prevalence of T2DM at the HIMFG institution from 2013 to 2018 increased by 12.8% (20.2% vs 33.0%, respectively). The study results demonstrate the need for vigilance in T2DM trends, and to strengthen programs of healthy nutrition and physical activity as well as early detection and risk factors for obesity, data on insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, with the aim of preventing the development of T2DM.
Core Tip: Diabetes mellitus was a disease exclusive to the adult population; however, due to an increase in the prevalence of obesity, as well as genetic risk factors, this disease has increased in the pediatric population, having a different presentation, with the presence that causes micro and macrovascular complications at earlier ages. Therefore, it is necessary to think about this disease when faced with data of insulin resistance and identify complications early.