Complication rate for diabetes patients leads to higher death rates

Published: 27 Aug 2015

One in five people admitted to hospital for angina; stroke; heart attack; and heart failure have diabetes

In 2012 there were 23,986 premature deaths in England and Wales due to diabetes as compared to the general population. Those with Type 1 diabetes were 131 per cent more likely to die in 2012 than their peers without the condition, and those with Type 2 diabetes were 32 per cent more likely to die.These additional deaths are largely preventable and develop after years of exposure to high glucose, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which are all signs of poorly managed diabetes and make complications such as heart attack and stroke more likely, according to the National Diabetes Report: Complications and Mortality. The report was published today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) as part of the National Clinical Audit Programme.

Download the full report here >

The report assessed the likelihood of a person with diabetes being admitted to hospital for each of a range of diabetic complications, as compared to somebody without diabetes. It also shows the proportion of all people admitted to hospital for each condition who also had diabetes, measured in Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs).

The complications were angina; myocardial Infarction (heart attack); heart failure; stroke; major amputation; minor amputation; and renal replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation).

The analysis showed that people with diabetes were:

• 139 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with angina (24 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)
• 94 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with myocardial infarction (20 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)
• 126 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with heart failure (24 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)
• 63 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with a stroke (17 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)
• 400 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital for a major amputation (36 per cent of all FCEs for the condition); and 817 per cent more likely to be admitted with a minor amputation (50 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)
• 272 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital for renal replacement therapy (ESKD) (31 per cent of all FCEs for the condition)

The report reveals a significant variation in the number of diabetic patients experiencing these complications and in mortality for patients with diabetes across the UK. A map of additonal risk of death among people with diabetes compared to the local population by CCG or LHB can be found here.