title: Mortality in adult-onset autoimmune diabetes is associated with poor glycemic control: results from the HUNT Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge on mortality in autoimmune diabetes with adult onset is limited. We compared mortality in adult-onset autoimmune diabetes and type 2 diabetes, taking into account metabolic risk factors, HbA1c, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of the population-based HUNT2 Study (second survey of the Norwegian HelseUndersøkelsen i Nord-Trøndelag Study; n = 64,264) were followed up prospectively for mortality in the Cause of Death Registry (1995-2009). Diabetes with onset ≥35 years was classified as autoimmune diabetes in adults if anti-GAD was positive (n = 208) and as type 2 diabetes if anti-GAD was negative (n = 2,425). Hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality from all-causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was lower in autoimmune diabetes than in type 2 diabetes (55 vs. 77%, P < 0.001). Still, autoimmune diabetes was associated with an increased risks of mortality from all-causes (HR 1.55 [95% CI 1.25-1.92]), CVD (1.87 [1.40-2.48]), and IHD (2.39 [1.57-3.64]), equally high as in type 2 diabetes in analyses where individuals without diabetes were used as the reference group. The increased risk was not explained by overweight, lifestyle, socioeconomic position, or presence of the metabolic syndrome. Excess mortality was primarily observed in individuals with elevated HbA1c.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mortality in autoimmune diabetes was as high as in type 2 diabetes, despite a more favorable baseline metabolic risk profile. Excess risk was associated with poor glycemic control. The results from this study, the largest so far on mortality in autoimmune diabetes in adults, underscore the importance of optimal treatment modalities to improve survival in adult-onset autoimmune diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Corresponding author: Lisa Olsson, lisa.olsson@chess.su.se.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Valdemar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grill
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midthjell
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahlbom
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlsson
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors