Type 2 diabetes: it would double the mortality

The type 2 diabetes have a two times higher than the general population, a UK study shows mortality. Obesity and smoking contribute to increased mortality, where recommendations for smoking cessation and weight loss in type 2 diabetes, say Dr. Henrietta Mulnier University of Surrey colleagues in Diabetic Medicine

Type 2 diabetes: a deadly disease

The British team studied mortality associated with type 2 diabetes from a cohort study. Indeed, the study of mortality associated with type 2 diabetes from death certificates tends to underestimate the contribution of this disease because there is not always indicated the existence of diabetes.

The researchers have compared the mortality occurred between 1992 and 1999 in a group of 44,230 type 2 diabetes aged 35 to 89 years and 219,797 people of comparable age and sex in the general population (control group).

The relative risk of death in the group of diabetic patients was increased by 93% compared to the control group.

Tripled the risk for younger (35-54) and the difference in mortality in diabetes between groups faded with age. However, "we have not found the very high relative risk [.] Described in earlier studies," say the authors. In these studies, mortality was five times higher in diabetics than in the general population.

The impact of diabetes on the rise in mortality risk appeared also higher among women. Their relative risk was 2.13 times against an increase of 77% in men.

In contrast, men with diabetes had a 50% increased mortality compared to women with diabetes.

To ban smoking and obesity

Among the factors involved in the increased risk of death in type 2 diabetes, smoking and obesity are found to be significant. Thus, the relative risk of mortality was 50% higher in smokers.

Similarly, obesity (body mass index is the ratio of weight to the square of height, between 30 and 34 kg / m²) increased the risk by 13% compared to the reference of 20-24 kg / m². The impact of weight really became significant in patients with severe obesity (BMI between 35 and 54kg / m²) which then increased the risk by 43%. Overweight (BMI between 25 and 29 kg / m²) was without effect.

"This suggests that efforts to encourage weight loss need to target obesity and prevention of transition to obesity in overweight people," the authors write.

In contrast, underweight (BMI between 15 and 19 kg / m²) appeared worse than overweight, increasing the risk by 38%. "This increase in mortality in patients with a low BMI may be associated with weight loss resulting from poorly controlled diabetes," the authors argue.