People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of sudden cardiac death

This study is based on solid data and methods. It analyses Denmark's national registry, which includes all individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

It is consistent with previous studies that emphasise the increased risk that diabetes still poses today in terms of cardiovascular problems. What is new about this study is that it specifically examines a very specific problem: sudden death.

From a methodological point of view, there are no significant limitations to consider. It is important to note that the data refer to 2010 and, fortunately, the quality of care available to people living with diabetes has improved significantly over the last 15 years, from 2010 to 2025.

The relevance of this study in practice/clinical settings highlights the need to improve cardiovascular preventive measures. The recommendations we can make based on this are to improve the care offered to people living with diabetes.

In general, the population-based approach of this study makes it extremely robust: there is no sampling; the entire population of a whole country is used to extract results.

The main limitations are inherent in the design; causality cannot be proven, and results based on medical records always have the inaccuracy of the cause of death, even of the accurate diagnosis of the diseases investigated. Perhaps most importantly, the data are from about 15 years ago, when certain cardioprotective drugs for diabetes (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, or SGLT2 inhibitors) were not yet in use, although they are widely used today.

In any case, the study highlights the need for surveillance and prevention of SCD [sudden cardiac death] in young patients with diabetes.