FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SURVIVAL FOR A COHORT OF CLINICALLY CONFIRMED DIABETES CASES IN NOVA SCOTIA

Abstract

Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia (DCPNS) Registry data were used to examine factors associated with survival for clinically confirmed diabetes mellitus (DM) cases. Type 1 (N=2,043) and type 2 (N=47,974) cases were followed from first Diabetes Centre visit until death/study end. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore differences in survival by sex, district health authority of care, and comorbidity status (hypertension and/or dyslipidemia). Median lifespan for type 1 cases was 12 years shorter than for type 2 cases. Hazard rate ratios for those with dyslipidemia, hypertension, or both compared to those with neither comorbidity were 1.63, 2.57, and 7.52 for type 1 cases and 0.95, 1.15, and 1.00 for type 2 cases. Disease progression and the relationship between comorbidity status and survival differed markedly for the type 1 and type 2 DM populations underscoring the need to examine these populations separately.