Abstract P059: Multiple Cause-of-Death Analysis Reveals Under Reporting of Disease Burden for Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Despite being considerably under reported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, and consequently on mortality figures, diabetes is among the ten leading causes of death in the U.S. A multiple cause-of-death analysis shows the extent to which diabetes is associated with other leading causes of death. Hypothesis: Analysis of multiple-cause-of-death will confirm prevalence rates of diabetes among racial/ethnic minority populations, demonstrate the impact of diabetes in association with other causes of death, and highlight variations of burden of disease among different racial/ethnic groups. Methods: Causes of death were identified using the Multiple Cause Mortality Files of the National Center for Health Statistics from 2003 to 2012. Age-adjusted mortality rates were calculated for diabetes both as the underlying cause of death (UCD) and as multiple causes of death (MCD) by racial/ethnic groups (NHWs, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanic/Latinos). Frequencies and proportions were calculated by race/ethnicity groups. Linear regression model was used for number of causes per death. Results: A total of 2,335,198 decedents had diabetes listed as MCD in the U.S. national death records from 2003-2012. Mortality rates of diabetes as MCD were 3.4 times than UCD for Asians, 2.9 times for Blacks, 2.9 times for Hispanics and 3.7 times for NHWs (Figure). Minority populations had higher proportion of deaths with diabetes reported as MCD than NHWs (1.7 times higher for Hispanics, 1.5 times higher for Blacks and Asians). Adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, there were 1.7 more causes per death co-occurred for diabetes decedents compared to decedents who died due to all other causes (95% CI: 1.714, 1.718). Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of a multiple-cause-of-death approach in the analyses for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of diabetes.