Characterizing Multimorbidity from Type 2 Diabetes: Insights from Clustering Approaches

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often live with and develop multiple co-occurring conditions, namely multimorbidity, with diffuse impacts on clinical care and patient quality of life. However, literature characterizing T2DM-related multimorbidity patterns is limited. This review summarizes the findings from the emerging literature characterizing and quantifying the association of T2DM with multimorbidity clusters. The authors’ findings reveal 3 dominant cluster types appearing in patients with T2DM-related multimorbidity, such as cardiometabolic precursor conditions, vascular conditions, and mental health conditions. The authors recommend that holistic patient care centers around early detection of other comorbidities and consideration of wider risk factors.