Effects of family history and sex on diabetes-related outcome in type 2 diabetes – Analysis from the tyrolean diabetes registry

PMCID: PMC12176189

PMID: 40531860

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324696

Journal: PloS one

Publication Date: 2025-6-18

Authors: Plattner C, Pfeifer B, Sourij H, Vill D, Wiedl M, et al.

Key Points

• Family history of diabetes is associated with earlier T2D diagnosis (mean age 51.89 vs. 56.59 years)
• Increased neuropathy risk in FHD patients (HR 1.41 [95%CI 1.11–1.81])
• Male patients with FHD show heightened cardiovascular disease risk requiring targeted monitoring

Summary

This large-scale retrospective study from the Tyrolean Diabetes Registry examined the impact of family history of diabetes (FHD) on type 2 diabetes (T2D) outcomes by analyzing 7,866 patients. Using propensity score matching to control for key variables, the researchers investigated how FHD influences disease progression, complications, and clinical characteristics.

The study revealed significant nuanced findings about diabetes outcomes based on family history. Patients with FHD were diagnosed at a younger age and showed distinct complication profiles. Notably, FHD was associated with an increased risk of neuropathy (HR 1.41 [95%CI 1.11–1.81]) but a decreased risk of macrovascular disease. Male patients with FHD demonstrated particularly interesting cardiovascular risk patterns, with increased risk for macrovascular events ranging from 73–156% compared to non-FHD males.