Standard mortality rates and years of life lost for serologically defined adult-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes – A fifteen year follow-up

Abstract

AimsThe Diabetes Incidence in Kronoberg (DIK) study of adult-onset diabetes used serological classification. Standard Mortality Rates (SMR) and Years of Life Lost (YLL) 15 years after adult-onset (18–100 years) of diabetes were compared to the population of Kronoberg. MethodsOf 1609/1660 (97%) patients, 112 (7%) had type 1 (T1D) (GADA+ and/or ICA+, and/or C-peptide < 0.25 nmol/l), and 1497 (93%) had type 2 diabetes (T2D) (antibody- and C-peptide ≥ 0.25 nmol/l). The National Swedish Mortality Register provided time of death. ResultsFor T1D SMR did not differ from the Kronoberg population in any age group. In T2D SMR was 1.20 (1.12–1.29). After 15 years 26% (29/112) T1D and 52% (785/1497) T2D patients had died, p < 0.0001. In T2D SMR was 5.6 (30–39 years), 2 (40–59 years), 1.4 (60–69 years), and thereafter no difference. There were no significant sex differences in mortality, and no YLL to adult-onset T1D, but five YLL to T2D for onset at ages 20–60 years. ConclusionsFor adult-onset T1D SMR did not differ from the general population, in contrast to previous findings in childhood-onset (< 30 years of age) T1D. The difference in mortality between persons with diabetes and the general population was due to higher mortality in T2D.