Key Messages
Overall
By Sex
By Age Group
By Deprivation
Technical Notes
Key Messages
- Diabetes Mellitus (DM) mortality data presented on this page underestimates the true impact of DM because medical complications associated with diabetes are not included.
- DM as the primary cause of death is still one of the leading causes of death in Simcoe Muskoka; however, rates of DM mortality have been steadily declining in Simcoe Muskoka and across Ontario.
- DM mortality rates are significantly higher among those living in areas with the most material deprivation when compared with all other areas.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) was listed as the primary cause for nearly 700 deaths in Simcoe Muskoka between 2014 and 2018 and was among the leading causes of death during that time period.
The age-standardized mortality rate for DM in Simcoe Muskoka for all ages and sexes in 2018 was 19.5 (16.2, 22.8) deaths per 100,000 population, which was not significantly different from the Ontario rate of 16.5 (15.9, 17.1) deaths per 100,000 population.
There was a decreasing trend in the DM mortality rates in both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario as a whole over the 19-year period from 2000 to 2018. From 2014 to 2018, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for DM in Simcoe Muskoka was 1.18 (1.10, 1.27), which means that the DM mortality experience in Simcoe Muskoka was about one-fifth higher relative to Ontario.
In 2018, the age-standardized mortality rate for DM among Simcoe Muskoka males was 25.0 (19.5, 30.6) deaths per 100,000, which was significantly higher than the female rate of 14.7 (10.9, 18.5) deaths per 100,000. The trends in the rates among Simcoe Muskoka males and females are similar to one another and consistent with the overall Simcoe Muskoka trend.
By Age Group
The risk of dying from DM increases exponentially with age. The age-specific rate of DM deaths between 2014 and 2018 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest among those 75 years and older at 173.8 (156.7, 192.2) deaths per 100,000. This was approximately three times the rate for those 65 to 74 years of age and more than ten times the rate for those 45 to 64 years of age. The DM mortality rate in Simcoe Muskoka was significantly higher than the provincial rate for adults 45 years and older.
By Deprivation
For the period from 2014 to 2018 (combined), the DM mortality rate among Simcoe Muskoka residents living in areas with the highest amount of material deprivation (as measured by the 2016 Ontario Marginalized Index) was significantly higher when compared with the rate for those living in all other areas.
Technical Notes
Mortality figures that are based on diabetes as the primary cause of death underestimate the true impact of diabetes on mortality. This is because the medical complications associated with diabetes put individuals with the disease at increased risk of premature death compared to people without the illness. According to a 2011 report produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada, at least one in ten adult deaths can be attributed to diabetes. However, the DM mortality rate based on primary cause of death remains a commonly used indicator at the provincial, national and international levels.
Mortality data come from the vital statistics database and are derived from death certificates completed by physicians, which are collected by the Office of the Registrar General (ORG) in Ontario. The cause of death reported is the occurrence that starts the sequence of events leading to death.
Diabetes mortality for the data presented on this page are based on the ICD-10 codes: E10-E14. See the APHEO Core Indicator page for chronic disease mortality for more details.
Date last updated: June 20, 2023