A diabetes mellitus in the First Nations population of British Columbia, Canada. Part 1. Mortality.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe mortality from diabetes mellitus or related diseases among residents of the province of British Columbia, Canada during the 6-year period 1991-1996, comparing the First Nations population (people with Indian Status) to the population of BC who are not Status Indian. STUDY DESIGN: A data base of all deaths during the 6-year period was created for this purpose. The number of deaths were tabulated using the 3-digit ICD-9 code for diabetes mellitus or a related disease, when they were recorded as the Underlying Cause of Death. Indirect standardization was used to adjust for age and gender differences between the two populations. RESULTS: For diabetes, Status Indian males had a Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 1.5 compared to other BC males (95% confidence interval 1.0 to 2.6). Status Indian females had an SMR of 2.2 (95% CI 1.5 to 4.5). Age-specific rates of death from diabetes were higher among Status Indian persons, for males aged 50 to 84 and females aged 45 to 84 years. Status Indian persons also Experienced higher mortality from cardiovascular and renal disease. CONCLUSIONS: In British Columbia, death from diabetes mellitus or a related disease was more common among First Nations people than in the rest of the population.