Mortality and health service utilization amongst Melanesian and Indian diabetics in Fiji.
A population-based survey of the biracial population of Fiji conducted in 1980 showed non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) prevalence to be high amongst urban Melanesians and Asian Indians. Follow-up of the cohort of urban residents has been conducted at the major sites of health service delivery in Suva, and surveillance now encompasses 4 years of such attendances. Age-adjusted mortality rates for diabetic subjects were increased compared with normal subjects (relative risks for 4 year mortality being 4.6 for Indians, P less than 0.01, and 1.5 for Melanesians, P greater than 0.1). Inpatient admission rates were also increased amongst diabetic subjects, but only significantly for the females. The relative risk of admission was 3.1 for Melanesian and 2.6 for Indian females (both significant at P less than 0.05). These results suggest that NIDDM in these populations is associated with several adverse health outcomes, and confirms for developing country populations the association of NIDDM with excess mortality noted amongst developed country populations.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged