Abstract
BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of diabetes in young adults raises concerns regarding its early cardiometabolic consequences. This study aimed to evaluate cardiac function, renal markers, lipid profile, insulin resistance, and vascular risk indicators in young adults with diabetes compared with non-diabetic controls. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged 18-45 years whose medical records were reviewed between 01/01/2012 and 31/12/2023. Clinical, metabolic, and cardiovascular parameters were analyzed to identify early cardiometabolic alterations associated with diabetes. RESULTS: Young adults with diabetes demonstrated early signs of adverse cardiometabolic remodeling, characterized by mild reductions in ejection fraction, elevated myocardial stress biomarkers, atherogenic dyslipidemia, increased insulin resistance, and subtle renal alterations. Stent use was also more common among diabetic patients, reflecting greater cardiovascular burden. These differences remained consistent across multiple metabolic domains. CONCLUSION: Diabetes in young adults is associated with an early and unfavorable cardiometabolic phenotype, highlighting the need for proactive cardiovascular risk assessment and targeted preventive strategies. Future longitudinal studies incorporating metabolic, inflammatory, and imaging markers are warranted to clarify progression patterns and guide precision-based interventions.