TREND IN MORTALITY DUE TO DIABETES-MELLITUS - ANDALUSIA, 1975-1994

Background. Relevant differences regarding the temporal evolution of m ortality attributed to diabetes mellitus in developed countries have b een observed. This work focuses on mortality due to diabetes mellitus in Andalusia during the 1975-1994 period and causes that can explain t his evolution are analyzed. Methods. Deaths caused by diabetes mellitu s occurred during the period 1975-1994 were obtained. For each gender the following parameters were calculated: crude mortality rates, age-a djusted rates by means of the direct method using the European populat ion as standard, adjusted rates by age of the potential years of life lost and specific rates by ii-year period groups, for the twenty years studied. Standardized rates were adjusted to a regression straight li ne regarding the death year and theoretical rates were calculated. Wit h these calculations the percentages in changes of mortality rates wer e estimated and a projection has been calculated until the year 2000. Results. From 1975 to 1994 the crude mortality rates due to diabetes m ellitus had increased slightly both in men and women. The adjusted rat es by age have decreased by 19.35% in men and 28.38% in women. The rem aining elaborated indicators have decreased more markedly; to note PYL L, with a decrease from 115.2 to 51.25 in men and from 132.98 to 31.94 in women for 100,000 persons/year. Conclusions. The mortality rates d ue to diabetes mellitus in Andalusia have decreased both in men and in women, mainly because of the marked decrease in premature mortality, which may indicate an improvement in health care to the diabetic patie nt.