Diabetes in Hispanic American youth: prevalence, incidence, demographics, and clinical characteristics: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.
OBJECTIVE
To report the 2001 prevalence and 2002-2005 incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Hispanic American youth and to describe the demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of these youth.


METHODS
Data from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, a population-based multicenter observational study of youth aged 0-19 years with physician-diagnosed diabetes, were used to estimate the prevalence and incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Information obtained by questionnaire, physical examination, and blood and urine collection was analyzed to describe the characteristics of youth who completed a study visit.


RESULTS
Among Hispanic American youth, type 1 diabetes was more prevalent than type 2 diabetes, including in youth aged 10-19 years. There were no significant sex differences in type 1 or type 2 diabetes prevalence. The incidence of type 2 diabetes for female subjects aged 10-14 years was twice that of male subjects (P < 0.005), while among youth aged 15-19 years the incidence of type 2 diabetes exceeded that of type 1 diabetes for female subjects (P < 0.05) but not for male subjects. Poor glycemic control, defined as A1C >or=9.5%, as well as high LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were common among youth aged >or=15 years with either type of diabetes. Forty-four percent of youth with type 1 diabetes were overweight or obese.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors such as poor glycemic control, elevated lipids, and a high prevalence of overweight and obesity may put Hispanic youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes at risk for future diabetes-related complications.
Lawrence
Jean M
JM
Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA. jean.m.lawrence@kp.org
Mayer-Davis
Elizabeth J
EJ
Reynolds
Kristi
K
Beyer
Jennifer
J
Pettitt
David J
DJ
D'Agostino
Ralph B
RB
Marcovina
Santica M
SM
Imperatore
Giuseppina
G
Hamman
Richard F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult