Increase in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents in Western Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To document diagnosis rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents in Western Australia over the past 12 years, the clinical characteristics of these patients and any comorbidities.


METHODS
Review of a prospectively recorded diabetes database.


METHODS
Tertiary paediatric referral centre (the only such centre in WA).


METHODS
All children and adolescents aged < 17 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1990 and 2002 and managed by Princess Margaret Hospital Diabetes Unit.


METHODS
Anthropometric and demographic data; glycohaemoglobin (HbA(1c)) level; blood pressure; lipid levels; presence of acanthosis nigricans.


RESULTS
43 patients (15 males and 28 females) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Age (SD) at diagnosis was 13.6 (1.8) years. The rate of diagnosis has been progressively increasing (average annual increase in the unadjusted overall rates of type 2 diabetes was 27%). Twenty-three patients (53%) were of Indigenous origin and 18 (42%) resided in rural areas. The mean (SD) HbA(1c) level at diagnosis was 10.0% (3.2%). Seventy-two per cent of patients had acanthosis nigricans, 59% had hypertension, and 24% had hyperlipidaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
There has been an increase in the diagnosis rate of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents in WA. Comorbidities are frequent.
McMahon
Sarah K
SK
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia.
Haynes
Aveni
A
Ratnam
Nirubasini
N
Grant
Maree T
MT
Carne
Christine L
CL
Jones
Timothy W
TW
Davis
Elizabeth A
EA
D000052:Acanthosis Nigricans / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin