Diabetes mortality statistics
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Global Diabetes Mortality Statistics
Diabetes is a major contributor to global mortality, accounting for a significant proportion of deaths among adults. In 2019, it was estimated that 4.2 million deaths among adults aged 20–79 years were attributable to diabetes, representing about 11.3% of all deaths in this age group worldwide. The impact varies by region, with the Middle East and North Africa experiencing the highest proportion (16.2%) and Africa the lowest (6.8%) . Notably, nearly half of these deaths occurred in people under 60 years old, with the highest proportion of younger deaths in Africa .
Earlier estimates for 2010 and 2013 showed that diabetes accounted for 6.8% and 8.4% of global adult deaths, respectively, with the number of deaths rising from 3.96 million in 2010 to nearly 5.1 million in 2013 12. The burden is particularly high in populous countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the United States .
Diabetes Mortality by Age, Sex, and Region
Diabetes mortality is not evenly distributed across age groups or sexes. In all regions, diabetes constitutes a higher proportion of deaths in females than in males beyond the age of 49, reaching over 25% in some groups 12. The highest rates of diabetes-attributable mortality have been observed in South-East Asian women aged 50–59 years .
Among people younger than 25 years, diabetes remains a preventable cause of death, especially in low and low-middle income countries. In 2019, there were about 16,300 global deaths in this age group, with 73.7% due to type 1 diabetes. The age-standardized death rate was much higher in low and low-middle income countries compared to high-income countries, and declines in mortality rates over the past three decades have been slowest in the lowest income settings .
Trends in Diabetes Mortality Over Time
Recent decades have seen a general decline in all-cause mortality among people with diabetes, especially in high-income and predominantly European populations 34810. From 2000 to 2016, most studied populations experienced annual reductions in mortality rates, with the magnitude of decline often matching or exceeding that seen in people without diabetes . In Hong Kong, for example, all-cause mortality among people with diabetes dropped by over 50% between 2001 and 2016 . In the United States, all-cause death rates among adults with diabetes declined by 20% every 10 years from the late 1980s to 2015, with even greater reductions in deaths from vascular causes .
However, improvements have not been uniform. Declines in mortality have been less marked in younger age groups and in non-European populations 45810. In some regions, mortality rates among people under 45 or 55 years of age have not significantly improved 810.
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mortality
For type 1 diabetes, mortality rates have declined in recent years in most studied countries, but the improvement relative to the non-diabetic population is inconsistent . For type 2 diabetes, excess mortality risk is strongly influenced by age, glycemic control, and the presence of kidney complications. Younger adults with poor glycemic control or kidney disease face much higher risks, while older adults with well-controlled diabetes may have mortality rates similar to or even lower than the general population .
Shifts in Causes of Death Among People with Diabetes
The leading causes of death among people with diabetes have shifted over time. While cardiovascular disease was once the predominant cause, its share has declined due to better management and prevention, leading to a diversification of causes of death. In some populations, pneumonia and cancer have become more prominent causes, especially among older adults 810.
Regional and Country-Specific Insights
- In Germany, diabetes mortality follows the Gompertz law, with people with diabetes having a 62–63% chance of dying before a same-aged peer without diabetes .
- In Hong Kong, the leading cause of death among older people with diabetes has shifted from cardiovascular disease to pneumonia, while cancer remains the most common cause in middle-aged adults .
- In the US, the gap in mortality between people with and without diabetes has narrowed, but young adults with diabetes have not seen significant improvements .
Conclusion
Diabetes remains a leading cause of premature death globally, with significant regional, age, and sex disparities. While overall mortality rates among people with diabetes have declined in many high-income countries, progress is slower in younger age groups and in low- and middle-income regions. Continued investment in prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management is essential to further reduce the global burden of diabetes-related mortality 1245+3 MORE.
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