Diabetes mortality among New Mexico's American Indian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white populations, 1958-1987.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the diabetes-related mortality rates among New Mexico's American Indians, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites over a 30-yr period.


METHODS
Death certificates were used to identify diabetes as an underlying cause of death by ethnic group in New Mexico during each 5-yr period from 1958 through 1987. The age-adjusted rates were calculated by ethnic group and sex, and temporal trends were examined. Comparison was made to U.S. white age-adjusted rates during the same time period.


RESULTS
Age-adjusted diabetes mortality rates for American Indians and Hispanics increased throughout the 30-yr period, and far exceeded rates for New Mexico non-Hispanic whites and U.S. whites by the 1983-1987 time period. The rates increased most dramatically among the state's American Indians, increasing 550% among women and 249% among men. Hispanic women and men experienced increases of 112 and 140%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
New Mexico's American Indian and Hispanic populations have higher diabetes mortality rates than non-Hispanic whites, and American Indian mortality rates have risen dramatically over the 30-yr period included in our study. Although the high prevalence of diabetes in American Indians and Hispanics is a major contributor to these rates, other factors may also influence the reported mortality rates.
Carter
J S
JS
Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque.
Wiggins
C L
CL
Becker
T M
TM
Key
C R
CR
Samet
J M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People