Abstract: Objective To explore the differences of clinical characteristics between the patients with aged-onset and middle-aged-onset newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 1555 newly diagnosed T2DM patients were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the onset age of diabetes, including 972 aged-onset patients(aged≥60 years old)and 583 middle-aged-onset patients(aged 40-59 years old). The levels of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose(FPG), postprandial glucose(PPG), serum creatinine(SCr), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), albumin creatinine ratio(ACR) and ankle-brachial index(ABI) were measured and compared between the two groups. Results The levels of HbA1c, FPG and PPG in the patients with aged-onset newly diagnosed T2DM were significantly lower than those in the patients with middle-aged-onset newly diagnosed T2DM(all P<0.01). Aged-onset patients had higher control target rate of HbA1c than middle-aged-onset patients ( 45.6% vs 33.79%, P<0.01). Compared with middle-aged-onset patients, aged-onset patients had significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and higher levels of systolic blood pressure, while significantly lower levels of TG and TC (all P<0.01), and had significantly higher control rates of TG and TC (all P<0.01). Aged-onset patients showed significantly higher proportions of diabetic macrovascular complications (coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared with middle-aged-onset patients (all P<0.01). Conclusions Compared with the patients with middle-aged-onset newly diagnosed T2DM, the patients with aged-onset newly diagnosed T2DM are more likely to control glucose levels and achieve HbA1c target. We should pay more attention to the management and control of blood pressure. The patients with aged-onset newly diagnosed T2DM have significantly higher proportions of diabetic macrovascular complications and CKD.

Key words: type 2 diabetes mellitus, onset age, aged, glucose control, complication