Mortality and diabetes from a population based register in Yorkshire 1978-93

Abstract

Objective - To investigate mortality of children diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and to identify common factors before death. Design - Follow up of a population based cohort of children diagnosed with IDDM to ascertain deaths. Setting - Children were diagnosed in Yorkshire but followed up throughout the United Kingdom. Subjects - From the Yorkshire Children's Diabetes Register details of 1854 children aged 0-16 years (1978- 93) were submitted to the NHS Central Register. Main outcome measure - Notification and causes of death. Results - 98.3% of cases were traced and 26 deaths identified. Follow up ranged from 1-18 years (median 9.3 years), providing 17 350 person-years of IDDM. Fifteen deaths (58%) were attributed to diabetes or its complications; 11 (42%) were unrelated and included one suicide. For mortality from all causes, the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) of 247 (95% confidence interval (CI) 163 to 362) was significantly increased for those under 34 years. The largest number of deaths (n = 10) occurred in the 15-19 year age range, with an SMR of 442 (95% CI 209 to 802). Case note examination showed a clear tendency towards poor diabetic control, and worries over control were expressed before death by health care professionals. Conclusions - Despite advances in treatment, IDDM still carries an increased mortality for young people, particularly in the 'transition' age range.