Greater macrovascular and microvascular morbidity from type 2 diabetes in northern compared with southern China: A cross‐sectional study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: There are substantial differences in genes, diet, culture and environment between the northern and southern Chinese populations, which might influence treatment strategy and screening policy. We studied the differences in type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications between northern and southern China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross‐sectional survey using data from the China Cardiometabolic Registries on blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose in 25,398 Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. Macrovascular, microvascular and other complications were collected by self‐report or medical records, and then divided into the northern and southern groups by the boundary of the Yangtze River. RESULTS: Northern patients were younger, and had heavier weight, greater body mass index and waist circumference, higher blood pressure, higher total cholesterol, higher low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher hemoglobin A1C. The prevalence of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and macrovascular complications were 1.76‐fold, 1.24‐fold and 1.47‐fold more in northern than that in southern Chinese patients. In addition, the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and microvascular complications in northern Chinese patients also increased. When stratified by age, the difference in both cardiovascular disease and ischemic stroke morbidity became significant, even in the 35–44 years age group. CONCLUSIONS: More macrovascular and microvascular complications were found in northern compared with southern patients, and the largest difference also appeared in the younger age groups <55 years, which might be meaningful to a screening and treatment strategy according to geographic differences.