Demographic factors and risk of mortality among persons with diabetes in Ontario, Canada

What is it about?

Type-2 diabetes is a global health burden. In Canada, about 11 million people have diabetes, and this number keeps constantly increasing. Type-2 diabetes raises the chances of developing heart-related problems like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. These health issues, along with factors like age, sex, and demographics, raise the risk of mortality for people with diabetes. Prior studies have not looked at how mortality risks differ among various groups of people with diabetes. The authors collected health records from over 1.7 million adults in Ontario, Canada. They examined how factors like age, income, and immigration status relate to the risk of death in patients with diabetes.

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Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study found that people with diabetes in low-income areas faced a 26% higher risk of all-cause mortality. These people also had a 44% higher risk of premature mortality compared to those in high-income areas. Immigrants with diabetes showed a reduced risk of both all-cause and premature mortality when compared to long-term residents with diabetes. These trends were also observed for cause-specific mortality. However, the difference in income gradient had less impact on mortality due to cancer, among people with diabetes. This cohort study sheds light on the relationship of mortality risk and socioeconomic factors among people with diabetes. KEY TAKEAWAY: Mortality variations among individuals highlight the urgent need to address the inequality gaps for efficient diabetic care and management. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: •SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being •SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities •SDG 1: No Poverty •SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals