The mortality of patients with diabetes mellitus in Latvia 2000–2012

Background and objective: In Latvia, like in other European countries, the incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing and so it is important to find out what the trends in the mortality of diabetes mellitus in Latvia are. The aim of this study was to calculate the mortality indicators of diabetes patients in Latvia from 2000 to 2012 and compare mortality among diabetes mellitus patients with mortality among the population of Latvia.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out with a quantitative statistical analysis approach. In the study, all the registered patients with diabetes mellitus from 2000 to 2012 were included.
Results: Mortality in a population with diabetes decreased statistically significantly from 57.76 per 1000 py in 2000 to 45.33 per 1000 py in 2012. In the general population of Latvia, there were no statistically significant changes; the mortality in 2000 was 13.56 per 1000 py, in 2012 – 14.24 per 1000 py. The age-standardised mortality ratio of the population with diabetes and the population of Latvia decreased from 1.71 (95% CI = 1.62–1.81) in 2000 to 1.23 (95% CI = 1.19–1.27) in 2012.
Conclusions: In Latvia the mortality of patients with diabetes exceeds mortality in the general population. Mortality rates are higher for men and older patients, however, compared to mortality in the general population, diabetes increases the risk of death; especially for women and for younger patients. There is a tendency that the mortality indicators of patients with diabetes and mortality indicators in the general population are becoming closer.