Age‐specific associations between the number of co‐morbidities, all‐cause mortality and public direct medical costs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Age-specific co-morbidity patterns were observed for patients with T2D. A greater number of co-morbidities was associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs, with stronger relationships observed among younger patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D in Hong Kong (electronic health records), stratified by age (<50, 50–64, 65–79, ≥80 years); co-morbidities defined by Charlson Comorbidity Index and prevalent chronic diseases from local surveys
- Participants
- 262,212 patients
- Exposure
- Number of co-morbidities vs none, by age group
- Outcome
- All-cause mortality and public direct medical costs by number of co-morbidities across age groups
- Follow-up
- Median 10 years
Methodological detailselectronic health records, stratified by age and number of co-morbidities
- Electronic health records
- Stratified by age and number of co-morbidities
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
All-cause mortality
Each group vs 0 co-morbiditiesHazard ratio (95% CI)
2 co-morbidities, age <50
1.31(1.08–1.59)
2 co-morbidities, age ≥80
1.25(1.15–1.36)
≥4 co-morbidities, age <50
3.08(2.25–4.21)
≥4 co-morbidities, age ≥80
1.98(1.82–2.16)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Direct medical costs
- Similar trends were observed for medical costs
- Gamma generalized linear model with log link
Co-morbidity patterns
- Hypertension and dyslipidaemia most common co-morbidities in all age groups
- CVD dominated top co-morbidity pair in older ages (65-79, ≥80 years); inflammatory and liver disease predominant in younger
Original publication
Age‐specific associations between the number of co‐morbidities, all‐cause mortality and public direct medical costs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 2 November 2022. doi:10.
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