Diabetes mortality in persons under 45 years of age

A detailed review of death certificates in Washington State for the years 1968-1979 was undertaken to analyze diabetes mortality for persons under 45 years of age. Diabetics in this age group had a mortality rate from medical causes eight times higher than that of the comparable general population. Almost one-third of the deaths were due to acute complications for which there is definitive medical therapy. Over the 12-year period there was no consistent decline in mortality rates or in deaths from acute complications, nor was there evidence of increased survivorship as reflected in the average age at death. Although residence in areas of sparse medical resources was not associated with high mortality rates, a significant proportion of deaths in all geographical areas occurred at home or before arrival at a hospital. Mortality rates and the proportion of deaths from acute, potentially preventable causes were higher in this study than in other recently published series, suggesting that early diabetes mortality may be a more serious problem than has been previously recognized. Diabetes mortality in this age group can be considered a 'sentinel health event' and should call attention to potential problems in health care delivery.