Risk factors of death in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective. To study risk factors of death in diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and methods. This prospective cohort study included 337 patients with compromised carbohydrate metabolism (36 with impaired fasting glycemia or impaired glucose tolerance, 80 with type 1 diabetes, 194 with type 2 diabetes, 27 with diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis). Mean follow-up was 11.2±4.8 years (from 1 January 1995 through 31 December 2014). We investigated causes and risk factors of death in patients with impaired carbohydrate metabolism. Results. 115 patients died during the study period. The most common causes of death of patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes are cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Risk factors of death in type 1 DM include cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Patients die at a younger age due to early onset of the disease. In type 2 diabetes risk factors of death are cardiovascular and oncologic diseases, nephropathy, the use of insulin. Patients die in elderly and senile age due to the late onset of diabetes. Gender differences in mortality associated with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus were not observed. Conclusion. Main causes of death in patients with type 1 and 2 DM are cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Risk factors of death include macro - and microvascular complications.