Mortality Among Type 2 Diabetic Individuals and Associated Risk Factors: The Three City Study

The 10 year mortality experience was determined in a population‐based cohort of 540 Type 2 diabetic individuals. The association between potential risk factors and all causes mortality was examined. Diabetes was not mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in 46% of 274 decedents. Diseases of the circulatory system (ICD9‐390–459) accounted for the majority (62%) of deaths in this cohort. Ten‐year survival was poorer than expected for both men and women compared to the age‐ and sex‐matched Minnesota population. Standardized mortality ratios for selected causes of death indicated excess for cardiovascular disease (ICD9‐390–459), coronary heart disease (ICD9 410–414) and cerebrovascular disease. Baseline variables associated with all causes of mortality included age and a history of macrovascular disease. These findings indicate that mortality data significantly underestimate the magnitude of diabetes and that individuals with diabetes have poorer survival than non‐diabetic individuals. 1993 Diabetes UK