Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Mortality

Chronic Diseases

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) was responsible for more than 800 deaths in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2005 and was the sixth leading cause of death during that time period.

The age-standardized mortality rate for DM in Simcoe Muskoka for all ages and sexes in 2005 was 21.9 (18.3, 25.6) per 100,000 population, which was not significantly different from the Ontario rate of 20.8 (20.4, 21.5) per 100,000 population. In 2005, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for DM deaths in Simcoe Muskoka compared with Ontario was 1.06 (0.88, 1.23), which means that Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario had a similar mortality experience with diabetes mellitus.

Figure one shows the trend in diabetes mellitus mortality rates for Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario over the six year period between 2000 and 2005. The rates in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario have remained relatively stable over this six year period. The rates in Simcoe Muskoka have not been significantly different from the Ontario rates over this same time period.

In 2005, the age-standardized mortality rate for diabetes among Simcoe Muskoka males was 27.2 (21.0, 33.4) per 100,000, which was higher than the female rate of 16.8 (12.6, 21.0) per 100,000. These rates were not significantly different than 2005 Ontario rates for males and females.

Figure two shows the trend in diabetes mellitus mortality rates for males and females in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2005. The trend in diabetes mellitus deaths among males and females in Simcoe Muskoka has been relatively stable over this six year period.

By Age Group

The risk of dying from diabetes mellitus increases exponentially with age (see figure three). The age-specific rate of diabetes mellitus deaths between 2000 and 2005 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest among those 75 years and older at 306.8 (280.4, 333.3) deaths per 100,000. This was nearly four times the rate for those 65 to 74 years of age and more than 20 times the rate for those 45 to 64 years of age.