title: Impact and characteristics of the non-Caucasian population in hospital admissions for diabetes onset during 2003-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of non-Caucasian patients in hospital admissions for onset of symptomatic diabetes mellitus during the 2003-2010 period, and to analyze the characteristics differentiating them from the Caucasian population at diagnosis and 2 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged 18-40 years admitted for de novo symptomatic diabetes from January 2003 to October 2010. Prevalence of patients of non-Caucasian origin was analyzed, and clinical, biochemical, immunological, and beta-cell function of both populations were compared at diagnosis and 2 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen percent of patients admitted to hospital for de novo symptomatic diabetes were non-Caucasian, with a progressive increase in recent years. Non-Caucasian patients had milder decompensation (3.0% had ketoacidosis, as compared to 15.2% in the Caucasian group, P<.05), lower presence of autoimmunity (27.2 vs. 73.1%, P<.01) and higher stimulated C-peptide levels (0.70±0.56 vs. 0.42±0.39 nmol/l, P<.05), mainly because of the subgroup with negative autoimmunity (0.82 vs. 0.25). Two years after diagnosis, less non-Caucasian patients were on intensified treatment (39.1 vs. 93.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-Caucasian patients had a lower prevalence of autoimmunity, better beta-cell function at diagnosis, particularly due to the subgroup with negative autoimmunity, and less need for intensive treatment 2 years after diagnosis, features which are more characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), España. Electronic address: pterron@bellvitgehospital.cat.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: San José
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), España.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Martín
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), España.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), España.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Maraver
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002096:C-Peptide; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: Diabetes mellitus tipo 1; Diabetes mellitus tipo 2; Ethnicity; Etnia; Ketosis-prone diabetes; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Type 2 diabetes mellitus