[Incidence and fatality of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes mellitus in Mexico].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the secular trend of the incidence and fatality rates of diabetic complications in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All diabetes mellitus(DM)-related hospital records for the 1985-1994 period, from the Mexican Institute for Social Security were reviewed.

RESULTS

An increasing trend in the incidence of diabetic complications was observed for the last decade. The most frequent complication is diabetes-related end-stage renal disease, followed by peripheral arterial disease. There is an important age effect in the occurrence of diabetic complications. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common complication in the early years of life. Fatality due to DM has decreased, mainly that due to acute complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic complications have increased due to the increase in the incidence of DM and in the life expectancy of diabetics. There is a need to study the true incidence of DM and of diabetic complications in Mexico, and to insist in an adequate metabolic control to delay or avoid their occurrence.