Levels of social deprivation, as well as how well a patient controls their blood sugar, is an independent risk factor for mortality in people suffering from type 1 diabetes, a new study has revealed.
Research from Diabetes Clinical Academic Group at King’s Healthcare Partners, UK, and presented by Dr Stephen Thomas, Dept of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), London, analysed blood sugar control (HbA1c levels), demographics and health resource utilisation data collected over a 10 year period for a cohort of 1038 patients with type 1 diabetes attending two inner city London specialist diabetes outpatient clinics.
All patients attending the service in 2002 with HbA1c data, a measure of blood glucose control, available for each year from 2002 to 2004 and with ongoing follow-up within the clinics until 2010 were included. Economic status was determined using the index of multiple deprivation (IMD) a weighted deprivation score derived from a national dataset based on postcode of residence.
The group had a mean age at baseline of 42 years and had had diabetes for a mean of 18 years. The average baseline HbA1c between 2002 and 2004 was 8.1 percent. In total, 37 deaths occurred by 2012 (3.6 percent cumulative mortality).
Those who died were on average older with a higher mean baseline HbA1c (9.1 percent) Having a baseline HbA1c over 9.0 percent carried a cumulative 10-year morality that was significantly increased at 9 percent. Those who died were more likely to be socially deprived, with 61 percent of deceased patients having scores in the poorest 20 percent of the population range (mean IMD score 32 points deceased vs 24 points for patients still alive).
Age, HbA1c and deprivation were all independent risk factors for death of patients with type 1 diabetes.
Source: ANI