Arnold SV, Khunti K, Tang F, et al. - This global study revealed high prevalence as well as high 3-year incidence of vascular complications in patients with relatively short type 2 diabetes (T2D) duration, thus emphasizing the necessity for early risk-factor modification.

• In a global, observational study (DISCOVER study) of people with T2D initiating second-line glucose-lowering therapy, incidence of vascular complications over 3 years of follow-up was investigated.

• Over 3 years of follow-up in 11,357 people with T2D from 33 countries, development of an incident microvascular complication and an incident macrovascular complication was evident in 16.0% and 6.6%, respectively.

• At the end of 3 years of follow-up, there was at least one microvascular complication and at least one macrovascular complication in 31.5% and 16.6%, respectively.

• A greater risk of both incident micro- and macrovascular complications was observed in relation to higher HbA1c and smoking.

• The strongest predictor for the occurrence of new microvascular complications (HR 1.40) and new macrovascular complications (HR 3.39) was known macrovascular complications at baseline.