The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes among the youth in southern India—An ancillary analysis of the Secular TRends in DiabEtes in India (STRiDE‐I) study

Background We studied the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its associated risk factors in younger (20 and 39 years) and older individuals (≥40 years) over a 10‐year period. Methods Epidemiological surveys in 2006 (n = 7066) and 2016 (n = 9848) were conducted in similar urban and rural locations of southern India among people aged ≥20 years. Diagnosis of T2DM was made using World Health Organization criteria. Self‐reported diabetes was verified from medical records. Age and gender standardized prevalence and incidence rates, percentage change in obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were calculated. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using Poisson regression analyses. Primary study was registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03490136. Results In 10 years, the prevalence of T2DM increased in younger (7.8% vs. 4.5%, p