Risk of cause-specific death, its sex and age differences, and life expectancy in post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus.

AIMS

The aim was to investigate sex- and age-stratified risks of cause-specific death and life expectancy in individuals with post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM).

METHODS

Nationwide data on mortality in New Zealand were obtained. For two head-to-head comparisons (PPDM versus type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]; PPDM versus type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM]), the groups were matched on age, sex, and calendar year of diabetes diagnosis. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to estimate risks of vascular, cancer, and non-vascular non-cancer mortality. Remaining life expectancy at age of diabetes diagnosis was estimated using the Chiang II method.

RESULTS

A total of 15,848 individuals (1,132 PPDM, 3,396 T1DM, and 11,320 T2DM) were included. The risks of vascular mortality and non-vascular non-cancer mortality did not differ significantly between PPDM and T2DM or T1DM. PPDM was associated with a significantly higher risk of cancer mortality compared with T2DM (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.63) or T1DM (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-2.13). The risk of cancer mortality associated with PPDM (versus T2DM) was significantly higher in women than in men (p for interaction = 0.003). This sex difference in cancer mortality risk was also significant in the comparison between PPDM and T1DM (p for interaction = 0.006). Adults of both sexes with PPDM had the lowest remaining life expectancy (in comparison with T2DM or T1DM) up to 64 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

People with PPDM have a higher risk of cancer mortality compared with those with T2DM or T1DM. This is especially pronounced in women. Young and middle-aged adults with PPDM have a lower life expectancy compared with their counterparts with T2DM or T1DM.