Young Healthy Individuals With a First-Degree Relative With Type 1 Diabetes Displayed Adverse Lipid Changes

Aim

Timeline of atherosclerosis in children with type 1 diabetes is unknown. We aimed to investigate if familial risk of type 1 diabetes is associated with pro-atherosclerotic changes.

Methods

Young first-degree relatives to patients with paediatric type 1 diabetes and sex and age matching controls were enrolled at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden between 2006 and 2015. Conventional lipids, human leukocyte antigen DQ2/8, inflammatory biomarkers, and history of respiratory infections were determined.

Results

A total of 117 first-degree relatives and 43 controls were recruited (50% boys) at median of 13.4 years of age (IQR 8.0). Relatives had lower BMI Z-score (p = 0.03) and frequency of respiratory infections (p = 0.03) compared to controls, but higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL, p = 0.04) and total cholesterol (p = 0.01). In multivariable regression models adjusted for confounders LDL was 0.35 mmol/L higher (95% CI 0.10–0.61) and total cholesterol was 0.46 mmol/L higher (95% CI 0.15–0.77) in relatives. Relatives with ≥ 4 respiratory infections/year had higher LDL than controls with < 4 infections/year (p = 0.035). Human leukocyte antigen DQ2/8 frequency and inflammatory biomarkers did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

Healthy young relatives to patients with type 1 diabetes display adverse lipid changes, probably related to their genetic susceptibility to this disease and recent respiratory infections.