Mortality due to diabetes mellitus in the state of São Paulo with emphasis in the years 2005-2007

Abstract

 The importance of diabetes mellitus has grown worldwide due to its increasing prevalence and mortality rates. Our objective was to evaluate the mortality rates of diabetes mellitus in the State of São Paulo since 1980, with emphasis in the years 2005 to 2007. The source of data was the System of Information on Mortality composed of data from death certificates and made available by the Ministry of Health. Death selection in the population resident in the state of São Paulo was made using codes of the International Classification of Diseases. There was an increase in the annual crude death rate of diabetes mellitus from 1980 through 2000, reaching 21 deaths per 100.000 inhabitants among males. After the year 2000 these rates leveled off. Among females, there was also an increase in the crude mortality rate until 2000, reaching 27 deaths per 100.000 inhabitants, and thereafter there was a trend towards reduction to 23 per 100.000 in 2007. Taking into account only the years 2005-2007, the mortality rate adjusted for age was 21 per 100.000 among men and 20 per 100.000 among women. Mortality rates were greater as age increased. Our data show the importance of the diabetes mellitus as cause of death, particularly among the elderly, and reinforce the need to improve the measures to prevent and control this disease.