A nationwide study on anastomotic leakage after colonic cancer surgery.

AIM: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a major challenge in colorectal cancer surgery due to increased morbidity and mortality. Possible risk factors should be investigated differentially, distinguishing between rectal and colonic surgery in large-scale studies to avoid selection bias and confounding. METHOD: The incidence and risk factors associated with AL were analysed in an unselected nationwide prospective cohort of patient subjected to curative colonic cancer surgery with primary anastomosis and entered into The Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database between May 2001 and December 2008. RESULTS: AL occurred in 593 (6.4%) of 9333 patients. Laparoscopic surgery [odds ratio (OR) 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.70; P=0.03); left hemicolectomy (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.50-2.72; P=0.01) or sigmoid colectomy (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.32-2.17; P=0.01); intra-operative blood loss (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.07; P=0.03); blood transfusion (OR 10.27; 95% CI 6.82-15.45; P<0.001) and male gender (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.12-1.75; P=0.02) were associated with AL in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The main finding that a laparoscopic approach was associated with an increased risk of AL should prompt close future monitoring. There was no evidence that centralization of surgery to high-volume hospitals reduced the rate of AL.

Growth hormone effects on cortical bone dimensions in young adults with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency.

UNLABELLED: Growth hormone (GH) treatment in young adults with childhood-onset GH deficiency has beneficial effects on bone mass. The present study shows that cortical bone dimensions also benefit from GH treatment, with endosteal expansion and increased cortical thickness leading to improved bone strength. INTRODUCTION: In young adults with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (CO GHD), GH treatment after final height is reached has been shown to have beneficial effects on spine and hip bone mineral density. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of GH on cortical bone dimensions. METHODS: Patients (n = 160; mean age, 21.2 years; 63% males) with CO GHD were randomised 2:1 to GH or no treatment for 24 months. Cortical bone dimensions were evaluated by digital x-ray radiogrammetry of the metacarpal bones every 6 months. RESULTS: After 24 months, cortical thickness was increased compared with the controls (6.43%, CI 3.34 to 9.61%; p = 0.0001) and metacarpal index (MCI) (6.14%, CI 3.95 to 8.38%; p < 0.0001), while the endosteal diameter decreased (-4.64%, CI -7.15 to -2.05; p < 0.001). Total bone width did not change significantly (0.68%, CI -1.17 to 2.57%; not significant (NS)). A gender effect was seen on bone width (p < 0.0001), endosteal diameter (p < 0.01) and cortical thickness (p < 0.01), but not with MCI (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Cortical bone reacts promptly to reinstitution of GH beyond the attainment of final height by increasing the cortical thickness through endosteal bone growth. This leads to a higher peak bone mass and may reduce the risk of cortical bone fragility later in life.

Validation of a 5-year risk score of hip fracture in postmenopausal women. The Danish Nurse Cohort Study.

SUMMARY: We evaluated the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hip fracture risk score in 15,648 postmenopausal Danish nurses. The algorithm was well calibrated for Denmark. However, the sensitivity was poor at common decision making thresholds. Obtaining sensitivity better than 80% led to a low specificity of 61.4%. INTRODUCTION: A new score based on data from the WHI has been designed to predict 5-year risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women. The performance of the algorithm has not been validated in populations with different lifestyle characteristics and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to test the clinical performance of the algorithm in a large Danish cohort of postmenopausal Caucasian women against hip fracture. METHODS: The Danish Nurse Cohort is a prospective risk factor and hormone therapy (HT) study established in 1993. Participants in the present analysis were 15,648 postmenopausal nurses. The calibration and diagnostic performance of the WHI algorithm was evaluated using fracture events captured in the Danish National Hospital Registry. RESULTS: During 5 years of follow-up, 122 participants suffered a hip fracture (1.8/1,000 person years). The WHI algorithm predicted that 107 hip fractures would occur, indicating an underestimation of the number of fractures by 12%. To obtain sensitivity better than 80%, the cut-off value for 5-year risk was set to 0.5%, which was accompanied by a low positive predictive value of 1.9% and a low specificity of 61.4%. The algorithm predicted too many fractures in HT-users (12 observed, 22 expected) and too few in non HT-users (107 observed, 81 expected). CONCLUSIONS: While the WHI algorithm was well calibrated on the Danish population, the clinical utility of the WHI algorithm in Danish postmenopausal women was limited by poor sensitivity at common decision-making thresholds and suboptimal in non-HT-users.

Anastomotic leakage after curative anterior resection for rectal cancer: short and long-term outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The influence of symptomatic anastomotic leakage (AL) after anterior resection (AR) for rectal cancer on short and long-term mortality and local and distant recurrence was analysed. METHOD: All patients with a first diagnosis of rectal carcinoma were prospectively registered in a national database. This comprised 1494 Danish citizens who had had a curative AR between May 2001 and December 2004. Data on survival and recurrence were obtained from the National Patient Register. Multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage increased the 30-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) 4.01 (95% CI 2.24-7.17)]. Of other possible risk factors, only age had a significant interaction with leakage, as the risk of death within 30 days of AR decreased with increasing age. Long-term survival decreased significantly after AL [hazard ratio (HR) of 1.63, CI 1.21-2.19]. A total of 97 (6.7%) and 258 (18.0%) patients had local and distant recurrence respectively in the follow-up period. The risk of local and distant recurrence after AL was not different with HR of 1.50 (CI 0.84-2.69) and 1.13 (CI 0.76-1.69) respectively. No other factors influenced the risk of recurrence due to AL. CONCLUSION: Anastomotic leakage after AR for rectal cancer increases the 30-day and long-term mortality, but AL did not increase the risk of local and distant recurrence.

Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer: risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to identify risk factors for clinical anastomotic leakage (AL) after anterior resection for rectal cancer in a consecutive national cohort. METHOD: All patients with an initial first diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma were prospectively registered in a national database. The register included 1495 patients who had had a curative anterior resection between May 2001 and December 2004. The association of a number of patient- and procedure-related factors with clinical AL after anterior resection was analysed in a cohort design. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakages occurred in 163 (11%) patients. In a multivariate analysis, the risk of AL was significantly increased in patients with tumours located below 10 cm from the anal verge if no faecal diversion was undertaken (OR 5.37 5 cm (tumour level from anal verge), 95% CI 2.10-13.7, OR 3.57 7 cm, CI 1.81-7.07 and OR 1.96 10 cm, CI 1.22-3.10), in male patients (OR 2.36, CI 1.18-4.71), in smokers (OR 1.88, CI 1.02-3.46), and perioperative bleeding (OR 1.05 for intervals of 100 ml blood loss, CI 1.02-1.07). CONCLUSION: Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for low rectal tumours is related to the level, male gender, smoking and perioperative bleeding. Faecal diversion is advisable after total mesorectal excision of low rectal tumours in order to prevent AL.

Weight history of patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To estimate and illustrate how the 10 years of weight change immediately preceding diabetes diagnosis vary with weight at the age of 20 years and with socio-demographic variables, risk factors and comorbidities at diagnosis. METHODS: Data were from a population-based cohort of 1320 persons newly diagnosed with diabetes aged > or = 40 years. Patients' weight at diagnosis was measured by the doctor, while patients recalled their weight approximately 1, 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis and at age 20 years. RESULTS: Median weight gain from age 20 years to diabetes diagnosis at median age 65.3 years was 14.7 kg (interquartile range 6.0-23.0). Women gained weight more than men, and the lower the weight at age 20 years, the greater the weight gain. The average weight gain from 10 years prior to diabetes diagnosis until diagnosis, however, was only 1 kg and decreased markedly with age. These 10 years of weight change were also associated with sex and the following baseline characteristics: diagnostic plasma glucose, urinary glucose, urinary albumin, fasting triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, smoking habits, and presence of diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The results add to the evidence that it is important to advise young patients in particular, especially women, who have gained and sustained considerable weight to curb this upward weight trend in order to prevent the development of diabetes.

Changes in patient weight and the impact of antidiabetic therapy during the first 5 years after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: It is generally thought difficult for type 2 diabetic patients to lose weight. We monitored changes in patients' weight during the first 5 years after diabetes diagnosis in relation to initiation of antidiabetic treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from 711 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 or over were analysed with a random-effect linear-regression model. Patients were included consecutively from a well-defined patient list in general practice. RESULTS: In 245 patients whose only treatment was advice on diet, an initial weight loss of 6 to 7 kg was largely maintained over 5 years. Patients receiving metformin (n=86) or sulfonylureas (n=330) maintained an average weight loss of 2 to 4 kg that was dependent on age and sex. Patients' weight did not change on initiation of treatment with sulfonylureas or metformin. Over 5 years, median HbA(1c) increased from 7.0 to 7.8% (reference range 5.4-7.4%) in the diet-alone group. HbA(1c) was approximately 1 percentage point higher for most of the other treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients, long-term weight loss was common and weight loss was not affected by sulfonylurea treatment. The measurements in the study are taken from treatment results achieved in the general population of diabetic patients, who are rarely treated in secondary care and seldom the subject of research; the results thus indicate that weight reduction is a practicable treatment in diabetic patients.

Factors associated with glycaemic outcome of childhood diabetes care in Denmark.

AIMS: To study how structure and process of care is associated with outcome assessed by HbA(1c). METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study originated from the nationwide Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes and two questionnaires. One questionnaire was sent to all children under 16 years of age with Type 1 diabetes in the year 2000 (N = 1087, response rate 80%). Another questionnaire was sent to the 19 centres in Denmark treating these children (response rate 100%). Simultaneously the children were asked to take a blood sample for central HbA(1c) analysis. Linear mixed models were used for analysis of associations between structure and process indicators and HbA(1c). Age, diabetes duration, sex, ethnicity, family structure and parents' occupational status were included as patient factors possibly affecting HbA(1c). RESULTS: More visits to the outpatient clinic and higher insulin dosage were significantly associated with higher HbA(1c) (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring (BGM/week) and completed nephropathy screening were significantly associated with lower HbA(1c) value (estimates -0.008 and -0.49, P = 0.02, respectively). The structure indicators were not associated with HbA(1c), but telephone hot-line was positively associated with the process indicator BGM (estimate 4.02, P = 0.04). Children without Danish parents performed BGM significantly less frequently (-7.11, P = 0.0005) and had higher HbA(1c) (0.41, P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Most process indicators were significantly associated with HbA(1c), indicating relevant action of staff on glucose regulation. The structure indicators were not associated with outcome, necessitating more detailed studies on the influence of staffing resources, treatment strategies and targets in childhood diabetes management.

The reliability of the ICD-10 and the DC 0-3 in an epidemiological sample of children 1½ years of age.

The aims of this study were to investigate the reliability of ICD-10 and DC 0-3 in the diagnostic classification of mental health problems in 1½ -year-old children from the general population. The reliability study was conducted as a part of an epidemiological survey of psychopathology in 1½ -year-old children from the general population. In this survey, the children were assessed and diagnosed according to the ICD-10 and the DC 0-3 after a 2-hr session including standardized and clinical methods and videorecordings. The case records and video material of 18 children were rediagnosed by the three child psychiatrists, who had diagnosed children in the epidemiological survey. In general, the reliability in diagnostic classification of mental health problems in 1½-year-old children was improved with the DC 0-3 compared to the ICD-10. In the classification of psychopathology at Axis I, the interrater reliability and test-retest reliability kappas were 0.66 and 0.57, respectively, with the ICD-10, and 0.72 and 0.74, respectively, with the DC 0-3. The reliability of the classification of relationship disturbances at Axis II with the DC 0-3 was high, corresponding to κ = 1. A high agreement among raters in the differentiation between psychopathology and normal variations was found. Given experienced clinicians and standardized assessment methods, it is possible to reliably identify and diagnose psychopathology in 1½-year-old children from the general population.

Peripheral vascular disease is associated with reduced glycosuria in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether the finding of glycosuria and its level in themselves give information of clinical relevance, apart from being an unreliable indicator of glycemic control. METHODS: Subjects were a population-based sample of 1,284 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Median age was 65.2 years. Urinary glucose concentration (UGC) was determined quantitatively in a freshly voided morning urine specimen. RESULTS: The over-all prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was 16.5%. Bivariately, high values of UGC were associated with low prevalence of PVD (p<0.001, chi2-test). The predictive value of PVD--together with HbA1c, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and 10 other possible predictors--was confirmed in a logistic regression analysis with glycosuria (Y/N) as outcome variable (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION: Surprisingly, type 2 diabetic patients with PVD tend not to have glycosuria as compared to patients without PVD. PVD may be indicative of generalized atherosclerotic lesions in the major vessels, including the renal arteries. This could lead to a lowering of GFR and thereby of the amount of glucose filtered. Assuming no, or only a minor direct effect of PVD on tubular function, this would lead to an increased renal threshold for glucose in patients with PVD.

Quality of diabetes management in children and adolescents in Denmark.

AIM: To describe the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in Denmark. METHODS: Quality indicators with standards of childhood diabetes management were chosen based on international and national guidelines. Data originated from the nation-wide Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes and two questionnaires: one questionnaire was sent to all children with diabetes (response rate 78%, n=1335) and the other was sent to the 19 centres in Denmark treating these children (response rate 100%). Simultaneously, the children were asked to take a blood sample for central HbA1c-analysis (normal range 4.3-5.8, mean 5.1%). RESULTS: Most children were managed at centres which complied with the standards for the process indicators for good diabetes management, but not with the standards for most structure and outcome indicators. Only one third of the children reached the treatment target for HbA1c. Their mean HbA1c-level increased gradually from ages 4-14 without significant difference between genders. The youngest children had the lowest HbA1c (mean 8.2%) and the lowest rate of severe hypoglycaemic events (4.6 events per 100 patient years). The subgroup of children without any hypoglycaemic events had the significantly lowest mean HbA1c-level (8.6%, P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes provided useful data for quality improvement, but had to be supplemented with data from questionnaires on the structure and process indicators. Outcome of paediatric diabetes management in Denmark was unsatisfactory. Centres need feedback on ways to improve care to lower the children's risk of developing severe diabetes complications.

Taking cognizance of mental illness in schizophrenics and its association with crime and substance-related diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse how committed crimes and substance-related diagnoses are associated with the age on the first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and the age at diagnosing of schizophrenia among schizophrenics. METHOD: In a register-based study including all Danes diagnosed with schizophrenia born after November 1, 1963, data on criminality, substance-related diagnoses and contacts with the psychiatric hospital system were analysed. RESULTS: Compared with the non-convicted schizophrenics the convicted were older on first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and older when the diagnosis of schizophrenia was first given. In contrast, having a substance-related diagnosis was associated with a younger age on first contact but did not influence the age at which the diagnosis of schizophrenia was given. CONCLUSION: It is important that both psychiatrists and the judicial system are aware of possible psychotic symptoms in criminal and abusing individuals to enable earlier detection and treatment.

Assessment of habitual energy and macronutrient intake in adults: comparison of a seven day food record with a dietary history interview.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quantitative agreement between a 7 day food record and a diet history interview when these are conducted under the same conditions and to evaluate whether the two methods assess habitual diet intake differently among subgroups of age and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population study, Denmark. SUBJECTS: A total of 175 men and 173 women aged 30-60 y, selected randomly from a larger population sample of Danish adults. INTERVENTIONS: All subjects had habitual diet intake assessed by a diet history interview and completed a 7 day food record within 3 weeks following the interview. The diet history interview and coding of records were performed by the same trained dietician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Median between-method difference in assessment of total energy intake, absolute intake of macronutrients, and nutrient energy percentages. Difference between reported energy intake from both methods and estimated energy expenditure in different subgroups. RESULTS: Energy and macronutrient intake was assessed slightly higher by the 7 day food record than by the diet history interview, but in absolute terms the differences were negligible. The between-method difference in assessment of total energy intake appeared to be stable over the range of age and BMI in both sexes. As compared to estimated total energy expenditure, both diet assessment methods underestimated energy intake by approximately 20%. For both methods the under-reporting increased by BMI in both sexes and by age in men. CONCLUSIONS: Energy and macronutrient intake data collected under even conditions by either a 7 day food record or a diet history interview may be collapsed and analysed independent of the underlying diet method. Both diet methods, however, appear to underestimate energy intake dependent on age and BMI. SPONSORSHIP: Danish Medical Research Council, the FREJA programme.

Diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Prevalence and interrelationship with microalbuminuria and triglycerides.

BACKGROUND: The exact role of factors such as serum lipids, body mass index and (micro-)albuminuria as possible determinants of diabetic retinopathy remains to be determined. We have scrutinized the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its concomitants in terms of risk factors and other diabetic complications in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. METHODS: A population-based sample of 1,251 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over was established in general practice. Median age was 65.3 years. Funduscopy was performed by practising ophthalmologists. Blood and urine analyses were centralised. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 5.0%. Only three patients had proliferative diabetic retinopathy. As expected, diabetic retinopathy and renal involvement, as expressed by the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. were strongly positively associated. An intriguing finding was that of an inverse relationship between fasting triglycerides and diabetic retinopathy, an association that proved to be confined to microalbuminuric patients. An inverse association between body mass index and diabetic retinopathy was found only univariately. CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of diabetic retinopathy cannot be explained by the screening method alone, but rather by early detection of diabetes in a non-selective patient sample. It seems that renal involvement modifies the expected relationship between diabetic retinopathy and triglycerides, but a pathophysiological mechanism is not available.

[Randomized controlled trial of structured, individualized treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The project of Diabetes Care in General Practice]. / Randomiseret kontrolleret undersøgelse af struktureret, individualiseret behandling af type 2-diabetes mellitus. Projektet Diabetesomsorg i almen praksis.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the effect of a multifaceted intervention directed at general practitioners to improve type 2 diabetes care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eleven Danish practices with 474 general practitioners were randomised to structured personal care (intervention group) or routine care (comparison group). Of 970 surviving patients (aged 40+ years) diagnosed with diabetes in 1989-1991, 874 (90.1%) were assessed after 6 years. Intervention comprised regular follow-up and individualized goal-setting, supported by reminders to doctors, clinical guidelines, feed-back, and continuing medical education. RESULTS: Predefined non-fatal outcomes and mortality were the same in both groups. The following risk factor levels were lower in the intervention patients than in the comparison patients: fasting plasma glucose (7.9 vs 8.7 mmol/l, medians, P = 0.0007), haemoglobin A1c (8.5 vs 9.0%, P < 0.0001, normal range 5.4-7.4%), systolic blood pressure (145 vs 150 mmHg, P = 0.0004), and cholesterols (6.0 vs 6.1 mmol/l, P = 0.029, baseline-adjusted). Both groups had sustained a weight loss since diagnosis (2.6 vs 2.0 kg). Metformin was the only drug used more frequently in the intervention group (24 vs 15%). Intervention doctors arranged more follow-up consultations, referred fewer patients to diabetes clinics, and were more optimistic in their goal-setting. DISCUSSION: In primary care, individualized goal-setting with educational and surveillance support may for at least six years bring risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes to a level that in other trials has been shown to reduce diabetic complications, but without adverse weight gain.

Randomised controlled trial of structured personal care of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a multifaceted intervention directed at general practitioners on six year mortality, morbidity, and risk factors of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Pragmatic, open, controlled trial with randomisation of practices to structured personal care or routine care; analysis after 6 years. SETTING: 311 Danish practices with 474 general practitioners (243 in intervention group and 231 in comparison group). PARTICIPANTS: 874 (90.1%) of 970 patients aged >/=40 years who had diabetes diagnosed in 1989-91 and survived until six year follow up. INTERVENTION: Regular follow up and individualised goal setting supported by prompting of doctors, clinical guidelines, feedback, and continuing medical education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predefined clinical non-fatal outcomes, overall mortality, risk factors, and weight. RESULTS: Predefined non-fatal outcomes and mortality were the same in both groups. The following risk factor levels were lower for intervention patients than for comparison patients (median values): fasting plasma glucose concentration (7.9 v 8.7 mmol/l, P=0.0007), glycated haemoglobin (8.5% v 9.0%, P<0.0001; reference range 5.4-7.4%), systolic blood pressure (145 v 150 mm Hg, P=0.0004), and cholesterol concentration (6.0 v 6.1 mmol/l, P=0.029, adjusted for baseline concentration). Both groups had lost weight since diagnosis (2.6 v 2.0 kg). Metformin was the only drug used more frequently in the intervention group (24% (110/459) v 15% (61/415)). Intervention doctors arranged more follow up consultations, referred fewer patients to diabetes clinics, and set more optimistic goals. CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, individualised goals with educational and surveillance support may for at least six years bring risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes to a level that has been shown to reduce diabetic complications but without weight gain.

Renal involvement is related to body height in newly diagnosed diabetic women aged 40 years or over.

We scrutinized the relation between body height and renal involvement in a large population-based sample of newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over. The urinary albumin concentration (UAC) was measured in freshly voided morning urine in 1,284 newly diagnosed diabetic patients. The course of insulin treatment showed that at least 97.6% of the patients could be regarded as Type 2 diabetic. Linear regression analyses were done with log UAC as dependent variable, and height, age, HbA1c, smoking habits, education, occupation, body weight and systolic blood pressure as independent variables. Median age was 65.3 years. In bivariate analyses UAC increased with decreasing height for women (R (S) =- 0.090, p =0.028), but not for men (R (S) =- 0.049, p =0.20). After backwards elimination in the regression models, height remained in the model for women only (p =0.041). Our finding of a relationship between short stature and renal involvement in Type 2 diabetic female patients adds to existing evidence from studies with non-diabetic and Type 1 diabetic subjects.

[Five-year survival in persons aged 40 years or over with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus]. / Femårsoverlevelsen for personer på 40 år eller derover med nyopdaget diabetes mellitus.

The five- to six-year all-cause mortality is analysed in 1323 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over. The median age at diagnosis is lower for males (63.6 years) than for females (67.5 years), but more males (24.7%) than females (20.0%) have died (p = 0.04). This male excess mortality can mainly be attributed to the 60-79-year old males. With increasing diabetes duration both male and female diabetic patients exhibit an increasing excess mortality in comparison with the Danish population. For males this excess mortality becomes statistically significant four years after diagnosis for the 40-59 year-olds and after six years for the 60-79 year-olds. For females and very old males no statistically significant excess mortality is observed, but after two to four years there is a tendency for the survival curve of 40-79-year old females to separate from that of the Danish female population to show an excess mortality. In this population-based study the disadvantageous mortality experience of even newly-diagnosed diabetic patients is clearly demonstrated.

Five-year all-cause mortality of 1323 newly diagnosed middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Data from the population-based study, diabetes care in general practice, Denmark.

The 5- to 6-year all-cause mortality is analyzed in 1323 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over. The median age at diagnosis is lower for men (63.6 years) than for women (67.5 years), but more men (24.7%) than women (20.0%) have died (p = 0.04). This male excess mortality can be attributed mainly to the 60- to 79-year-old men. With increasing diabetes duration, both male and female diabetic patients exhibit an increasing excess mortality in comparison with the Danish population. For men, this excess mortality becomes statistically significant 4 years after diagnosis for the 40- to 59-year-old patient and 6 years after diagnosis for the 60- to 79-year-old patient. For women and very old men, no statistically significant excess mortality is observed. After 2-4 years, however, there is a tendency for the survival curve of 40- to 79-year-old women to separate from that of the Danish female population to show an excess mortality. In this population-based study, the disadvantageous mortality experience of even newly diagnosed diabetic patients is clearly demonstrated.