The British Diabetic Association Cohort Study, II: cause-specific mortality in patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus

Aims To measure cause-specific mortality, by age, in patients with insulin- treated diabetes incident at a young age. Methods A cohort of 23752 patients with insulin-treated diabetes diagnosed under the age of 30 years, from throughout the United Kingdom, was identifi ed during 1972-93 and followed to February 1997. Death certificates have be en obtained for deaths during the follow-up period and cause-specific morta lity rates and standardized mortality ratios by age and sex are reported. Results During the follow-up period 949 deaths occurred and at all ages mor tality rates were considerably higher than in the general population, Acute metabolic complications of diabetes were the greatest single cause of exce ss death under the age of 30 years, Cardiovascular disease was responsible for the greatest proportion of the deaths from the age of 30 years onwards. Conclusions Deaths in patients with diabetes diagnosed under the age of 30 have been reported and comparisons drawn with mortality in the general popu lation. To reduce these deaths attention must be paid both to the preventio n of acute metabolic deaths and the early detection and treatment elf cardi ovascular disease and associated risk factors.