Multicausal analysis of mortality due to diabetes mellitus in Spain, 2016-2018

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess multicausal mortality due to diabetes from 2016-2018 in Spain. Specific objectives were to quantify the occurrence of diabetes as an underlying cause or as any registered cause on the death certificate.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study taking a multicausal approach.

Results: Diabetes appears as an underlying cause of 2.3% of total deaths in Spain, and as any cause in 6.2%. In patients in whom Diabetes appears as an underlying cause on the death certificates, the 15 most frequent immediate causes are cardiovascular diseases in men(prevalence ratio 1,59)and women (PR1,31). In men, the causes associated with diabetes as any cause were skin diseases(prevalence ratio 1.33), followed by endocrine diseases(prevalence ratio 1.26)and genitourinary diseases (prevalence ratio1.14). In women, the causes associated with the presence of diabetes as any cause were endocrine (prevalence ratio 1.13)and genitourinary (prevalence ratio 1.04)diseases.

Conclusions: In patients in whom diabetes appears as an underlying cause on the death certificates, the 15 most frequent immediate causes are cardiovascular diseases. In men, the causes associated with the presence of diabetes as any cause of death are skin, endocrine and genitourinary diseases. In women, the causes associated with diabetes as any cause are endocrine and genitourinary.

Keywords: Cause of death; Death certificates; Diabetes mellitus; Mortality.