Glucose tolerance and mortality in diabetes mellitus in Maltese-born residents of Victoria.

Abstract

In view of the recognized high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Malta compared with Australia, 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on 396 Maltese-born residents of Melbourne. Eighteen (4.5%) were found to have diabetes mellitus and 19 (4.8%) were found to have impaired glucose tolerance by current criteria. Glucose tolerance was correlated with family history of diabetes, with age, with obesity and with parity in women, but not with length of residence in Australia. Analysis of statistical data of death certification showed that Maltese-born residents of Victoria had a higher age-specific mortality from both diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease than did Victorian Italian-born residents or the total Victorian population. This was most marked in women. The results suggest that Maltese immigrants to Australia after years of residence, still run a higher risk of becoming affected with diabetes mellitus or ischaemic heart disease than the average for the Australian population. The relative importance of genetic and environmental factors involved in this difference should be the subject of continuing study in the future.