Mortality in type 1 diabetes mellitus: A single centre experience from the ICMR – Youth onset diabetes registry in India

Introduction

The prevalence of youth onset diabetes is rising globally along with a greater burden of complications and mortality in them. The current study was undertaken to examine the mortality and causes of death in patients with youth onset diabetes registered in a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Methods

We analyzed mortality and causes of death in 1088 patients with youth onset diabetes registered from 2006 to 2019 at University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. Information of death was obtained telephonically or by home visit or from hospital records wherever available. Verbal autopsy according to ICMR questionnaire was performed and cause of death determined as per WHO ICD-10/11.

Results

Among 898 youth onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) patients who had a mean follow up of 6.4 years, 105 deaths (11.6 %) occurred. Forty three percent of deaths had diabetes onset at 15 years or below, and 75.6 % had HbA1C > 10 %. Deaths occurred in 24.2 % within 2 years and in 53.6 % within 3 years of diagnosis. Chronic Kidney disease, infections and ketoacidosis were the commonest causes.

Conclusion

We found poor glycaemic control and high mortality in people with youth onset T1D being treated at a tertiary care hospital in north India.