Mortality From Diabetes in Nauru: Results of 4-Yr Follow-Up
- Paul Z Zimmet, FRACP,
- Caroline F Finch, MSc,
- Michael G Schooneveldt, PhD,
- Hilary O King, MD and
- Kiki Thoma, DMS
- WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus, Lions-International Diabetes Institute Melbourne, Australia; and Nauru General Hospital Nauru
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Paul Zimmet, Lions-International Diabetes Institute, 260 Kooyong Road, Caulfield South, 3162, Australia.
Abstract
A population survey in 1982 confirmed that Nauruan adults suffer from an extremely high prevalence (24%) of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A follow-up study of the survey subjects was conducted in 1986. The aim was to assess the burden of diabetes to Nauruans in terms of premature mortality. Age-adjusted mortality rates for diabetic subjects were significantly increased when compared with normal subjects (relative risks for 4-yr mortality were 4.53 in men, P < .01, and 3.96 in women, P < .05). Although there was an excess number of deaths among diabetic subjects compared with normal subjects and subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, there was no significant association between cause of death and diabetes.
- Copyright © 1988 by the American Diabetes Association
