Standard mortality rates and years of life lost for serologically defined adult-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes - A fifteen year follow-up.

Aims: The Diabetes Incidence in Kronoberg (DIK) study of adult-onset diabetes used serological classification. Standard Mortality Rates (SMR) and Years of Life Lost (YLL) 15 years after adult-onset (18-100 years) of diabetes were compared to the population of Kronoberg.

Methods: Of 1609/1660 (97%) patients, 112 (7%) had type 1 (T1D) (GADA and/or ICA, and/or C-peptide < 0.25 nmol/l), and 1497 (93%) had type 2 diabetes (T2D) (antibody and C-peptide ≥ 0.25 nmol/l). The National Swedish Mortality Register provided time of death.

Results: For T1D SMR did not differ from the Kronoberg population in any age group. In T2D SMR was 1.20 (1.12-1.29). After 15 years 26% (29/112) T1D and 52% (785/1497) T2D patients had died, p < 0.0001. In T2D SMR was 5.6 (30-39 years), 2 (40-59 years), 1.4 (60-69 years), and thereafter no difference. There were no significant sex differences in mortality, and no YLL to adult-onset T1D, but five YLL to T2D for onset at ages 20-60 years.

Conclusions: For adult-onset T1D SMR did not differ from the general population, in contrast to previous findings in childhood-onset (< 30 years of age) T1D. The difference in mortality between persons with diabetes and the general population was due to higher mortality in T2D.