[Trend in mortality due to diabetes mellitus. Andalusia, 1975-1994].

BACKGROUND

Relevant differences regarding the temporal evolution of mortality attributed to diabetes mellitus in developed countries have been observed. This work focuses on mortality due to diabetes mellitus in Andalusia during the 1975-1994 period and causes that can explain this evolution are analyzed.

METHODS

Deaths caused by diabetes mellitus occurred during the period 1975-1994 were obtained. For each gender the following parameters were calculated: crude mortality rates, age-adjusted rates by means of the direct method using the European population as standard, adjusted rates by age of the potential years of life lost and specific rates by 5-year period groups, for the twenty years studied. Standardized rates were adjusted to a regression straight line regarding the death year and theoretical rates were calculated. With these calculations the percentages in changes of mortality rates were estimated and a projection has been calculated until the year 2000.

RESULTS

From 1975 to 1994 the crude mortality rates due to diabetes mellitus had increased slightly both in men and women. The adjusted rates by age have decreased by 19.35% in men and 28.38% in women. The remaining elaborated indicators have decreased more markedly; to note PYLL, 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 due 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 patient.