The decline in mortality due to acute complications of diabetes mellitus in Brazil, 1991-2010

Increased risk of death following recurrent ketoacidosis admissions: a Brazilian cohort study of young adults with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Recurrent DKA (rDKA) remains an acute type 1 diabetes complication even in post-insulin era. This study aimed to analyze the predictors and effects of rDKA on the mortality of patients with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized (n = 231) wih diabetic ketoacidosis (between 2007 and 2018) were included. Laboratorial and clinical variables were collected. Mortality curves were compared in four groups: diabetic ketoacidosis as a new-onset type 1 diabetes (group A), single diabetic ketoacidosis episode after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (group B), 2-5 diabetic ketoacidosis events (group C), and > 5 diabetic ketoacidosis events during follow-up period (group D).

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (approximately 1823 days), the mortality rate was 16.02% (37/231). The median age at death was 38.7 years. In the survival curve analysis, at 1926 days (5 years), the probabilities of death were indicated by ratios of 7.78%, 4.58%, 24.40%, and 26.63% in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. One diabetic ketoacidosis episode compared with ≥ 2 events had a relative risk of 4.49 (p = 0.004) of death and > 5 events had 5.81 (p = 0.04). Neuropathy (RR 10.04; p < 0.001), retinopathy (relative risk 7.94; p < 0.01), nephropathy (RR 7.10; p < 0.001), mood disorders (RR 3.57; p = 0.002), antidepressant use (RR 3.09; p = 0.004), and statin use (RR 2.81; p = 0.0024) increased the risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 1 diabetes with > 2 diabetic ketoacidosis episodes have four times greater risk of death in 5 years. Microangiopathies, mood disorders, and use of antidepressants and statins were important risk factors for short-term mortality.

Diabetes mortality and trends before 25 years of age: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

Diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes, at younger ages can be a largely preventable cause of death with the correct health care and services. We aimed to evaluate diabetes mortality and trends at ages younger than 25 years globally using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019.

METHODS

We used estimates of GBD 2019 to calculate international diabetes mortality at ages younger than 25 years in 1990 and 2019. Data sources for causes of death were obtained from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and other surveillance systems for 1990-2019. We estimated death rates for each location using the GBD Cause of Death Ensemble model. We analysed the association of age-standardised death rates per 100 000 population with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and a measure of universal health coverage (UHC) and described the variability within SDI quintiles. We present estimates with their 95% uncertainty intervals.

FINDINGS

In 2019, 16 300 (95% uncertainty interval 14 200 to 18 900) global deaths due to diabetes (type 1 and 2 combined) occurred in people younger than 25 years and 73·7% (68·3 to 77·4) were classified as due to type 1 diabetes. The age-standardised death rate was 0·50 (0·44 to 0·58) per 100 000 population, and 15 900 (97·5%) of these deaths occurred in low to high-middle SDI countries. The rate was 0·13 (0·12 to 0·14) per 100 000 population in the high SDI quintile, 0·60 (0·51 to 0·70) per 100 000 population in the low-middle SDI quintile, and 0·71 (0·60 to 0·86) per 100 000 population in the low SDI quintile. Within SDI quintiles, we observed large variability in rates across countries, in part explained by the extent of UHC (r2=0·62). From 1990 to 2019, age-standardised death rates decreased globally by 17·0% (-28·4 to -2·9) for all diabetes, and by 21·0% (-33·0 to -5·9) when considering only type 1 diabetes. However, the low SDI quintile had the lowest decline for both all diabetes (-13·6% [-28·4 to 3·4]) and for type 1 diabetes (-13·6% [-29·3 to 8·9]).

INTERPRETATION

Decreasing diabetes mortality at ages younger than 25 years remains an important challenge, especially in low and low-middle SDI countries. Inadequate diagnosis and treatment of diabetes is likely to be major contributor to these early deaths, highlighting the urgent need to provide better access to insulin and basic diabetes education and care. This mortality metric, derived from readily available and frequently updated GBD data, can help to monitor preventable diabetes-related deaths over time globally, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Targets, and serve as an indicator of the adequacy of basic diabetes care for type 1 and type 2 diabetes across nations.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Interpreting global trends in type 2 diabetes complications and mortality

International trends in traditional diabetes complications (cardiovascular, renal, peripheral vascular, ophthalmic, hepatic or neurological diseases) and mortality rates are poorly characterised. An earlier review of studies published up to 2015 demonstrated that most data come from a dozen high-income countries (HICs) in North America, Europe or the Asia-Pacific region and that, in these countries at least, rates of acute glycaemic fluctuations needing medical attention and amputations, myocardial infarction and mortality were all declining over the period. Here, we provide an updated review of published literature on trends in type 2 diabetes complications and mortality in adults since 2015. We also discuss issues related to data collection, analysis and reporting that have influenced global trends in type 2 diabetes and its complications. We found that most data on trends in type 2 diabetes, its complications and mortality come from a small number of HICs with comprehensive surveillance systems, though at least some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from Africa and Latin America are represented in this review. The published data suggest that HICs have experienced declines in cardiovascular complication rates and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes. In parallel, cardiovascular complications and mortality rates in people with diabetes have increased over time in LMICs. However, caution is warranted in interpreting trends from LMICs due to extremely sparse data or data that are not comparable across countries. We noted that approaches to case ascertainment and definitions of complications and mortality (numerators) and type 2 diabetes (the denominator) vary widely and influence the interpretation of international data. We offer four key recommendations to more rigorously document trends in rates of type 2 diabetes complications and mortality, over time and worldwide: (1) increasing investments in data collection systems; (2) standardising case definitions and approaches to ascertainment; (3) strengthening analytical capacity; and (4) developing and implementing structured guidelines for reporting of data.

Healthy lifestyle and recommendations in health care among hypertensive and diabetic patients in Brazil, 2019

OBJECTIVE

To estimate prevalence of healthy behaviors among individuals aged 30 years or more, diagnosed with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, using information from the National Health Survey, 2019.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with cluster sampling and simple random sampling in three stages. Individuals were aggregated according the following conditions: having arterial hypertension; arterial hypertension only; diabetes mellitus; diabetes mellitus only; arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus only; without chronic non-communicable diseases. Poisson regression models and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios for sex, age group, and schooling were used. The proportion of recommendations received by patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus was estimated by type of care (public/private).

RESULTS

A total of 69,285 individuals aged 30 years or more was analyzed. Compared to individuals without non-communicable diseases, prevalence of consumption of fruits and vegetables ≥5 days a week was significantly higher among individuals with arterial hypertension (39.9% - 95%CI 38.8-41.0) and those with diabetes mellitus (42.8% - 95%CI 40.7-44.9). However, estimates of not having consumed ultra-processed food were low, 19.7% (95%CI 18.9-20.6) and 21.9% (95%CI 20,3-23.5), respectively. Prevalence of not smoking reached values close to 90% and significant prevalence ratios, whereas the practice of physical activity had levels below 30% and non-significant prevalence ratios. The proportion of healthy eating recommendations reached 90%, but it was close to 70% for not smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to encourage the practice of healthy lifestyles and provide information about the benefits of physical activity and the harmful effects of unhealthy eating for well-being and aging with quality.

The burden of diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil: a global burden of disease study 2017

Background

The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2017 database permits an up-to-date evaluation of the frequency and burden of diabetes at the state level in Brazil and by type of diabetes. The objective of this report is to describe, using these updated GBD data, the current and projected future burden of diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil, as well as its variation over time and space.

Methods

We derived all estimates using the GBD 2016 and 2017 databases to characterize disease burden related to diabetes and hyperglycemia in Brazil, from 1990 to 2040, using standard GBD methodologies.

Results

The overall estimated prevalence of diabetes in Brazil in 2017 was 4.4% (95%UI 4.0–4.9%), with 4.0% of those with diabetes being identified as having type 1 disease. While the crude prevalence of type 1 disease has remained relatively stable from 1990, type 2 prevalence has increased 30% for males and 26% for females. In 2017, approximately 3.3% of all disability-adjusted life years lost were due to diabetes and 5.9% to hyperglycemia. Diabetes prevalence and mortality were highest in the Northeast region and growing fastest in the North, Northeast, and Center-West regions. Over this period, despite a slight decrease in age-standardized incidence of type 2 diabetes, crude overall burden due to hyperglycemia has increased 19%, with population aging being a main cause for this rise. Cardiovascular diseases, responsible for 38.3% of this burden in 1990, caused only 25.9% of it in 2017, with premature mortality attributed directly to diabetes causing 31.6% of the 2017 burden. Future projections suggest that the diabetes mortality burden will increase 144% by 2040, more than twice the expected increase in crude disease burden overall (54%). By 2040, diabetes is projected to be Brazil’s third leading cause of death and hyperglycemia its third leading risk factor, in terms of deaths.

Conclusions

The disease burden in Brazil attributable to diabetes and hyperglycemia, already large, is predicted by GBD estimates to more than double to 2040. Strong actions by the Ministry of Health are necessary to counterbalance the major deleterious effects of population aging.

A nationwide analysis of the excess death attributable to diabetes in Brazil

Background

Data on mortality burden and excess deaths attributable to diabetes are sparse and frequently unreliable, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Estimates in Brazil to date have relied on death certificate data, which do not consider the multicausal nature of deaths. Our aim was to combine cohort data with national prevalence and mortality statistics to estimate the absolute number of deaths that could have been prevented if the mortality rates of people with diabetes were the same as for those without. In addition, we aimed to estimate the increase in burden when considering undiagnosed diabetes.

Methods

We estimated self-reported diabetes prevalence from the National Health Survey (PNS) and overall mortality from the national mortality information system (SIM). We estimated the diabetes mortality rate ratio (rates of those with vs without diabetes) from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), an ongoing cohort study. Joining estimates from these three sources, we calculated for the population the absolute number and the fraction of deaths attributable to diabetes. We repeated our analyses considering both self-reported and unknown diabetes, the latter estimated based on single point-in-time glycemic determinations in ELSA-Brasil. Finally, we compared results with diabetes-related mortality information from death certificates.

Results

In 2013, 65 581 deaths, 9.1% of all deaths between the ages of 35-80, were attributable to known diabetes. If cases of unknown diabetes were considered, this figure would rise to 14.3%. In contrast, based on death certificates only, 5.3% of all death had diabetes as the underlying cause and 10.4% as any mentioned cause.

Conclusions

In this first report of diabetes mortality burden in Brazil using cohort data to estimate diabetes mortality rate ratios and the prevalence of unknown diabetes, we showed marked underestimation of the current burden, especially when unknown cases of diabetes are also considered.

Adjuvant Therapy With Mushroom Polysaccharides for Diabetic Complications

Background

Diabetic complications seriously endanger the health of most diabetic patients around the world. Most chemical hypoglycemic agents have adverse effects and are unable to improve the progression of diabetic complications. In recent years, a number of medicinal herbs have become increasingly popular for the treatment of diabetic complications due to their relative safety. Polysaccharides extracted from medicinal herbs with multiple pharmacological activities and low toxicity have been reported to be useful in the treatment of diabetic complications.

Methods

Primary studies with keywords including polysaccharide and diabetic complications were retrieved from the Web of Science and NCBI databases and were read and analyzed.

Results

Mushroom polysaccharides were proven to have positive effects on diabetic complications.

Conclusions

We studied the effects of mushroom polysaccharides on hyperglycemia and as adjuvant therapies for diabetic complications and summarized the applications and limitations of mushroom polysaccharides to better understand their application for the treatment of diabetic complications.

Recent Avenues in Novel Patient-Friendly Techniques for the Treatment of Diabetes

Background:

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic metabolic disorders which affect the quality of human life worldwide. As per the WHO report, between 1980 to 2014, the number of diabetes patients increases from 108 million to 422 million, with a global prevalence rate of 8.5% per year. Diabetes is the prime reason behind various other diseases like kidney failure, stroke, heart disorders, glaucoma, etc. It is recognized as the seventh leading cause of death throughout the world. The available therapies are painful (insulin injections) and inconvenient due to higher dosing frequency. Thus, to find out a promising and convenient treatment, extensive investigations are carried out globally by combining novel carrier system (like microparticle, microneedle, nanocarrier, microbeads etc.) and delivery devices (insulin pump, stimuli-responsive device, inhalation system, bioadhesive patch, insulin pen etc.) for more precise diagnosis and painless or less invasive treatment of disease.

Objective:

The review article is made with an objective to compile information about various upcoming and existing modern technologies developed to provide greater patient compliance and reduce the undesirable side effect of the drug. These devices evade the necessity of daily insulin injection and offer a rapid onset of action, which sustained for a prolonged duration of time to achieve a better therapeutic effect.

Conclusion:

Despite numerous advantages, various commercialized approaches, like Afrezza (inhalation insulin) have been a failure in recent years. Such results call for more potential work to develop a promising system. The novel approaches range from the delivery of non-insulin blood glucose lowering agents to insulin-based therapy with minimal invasion are highly desirable.

Mortality during US FDA clinical trials in patients with diabetes, hypertension, depression and schizophrenia

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the mortality rates associated with psychiatric conditions like depression and schizophrenia compared with chronic medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes.Methods: Examined clinical trial safety data from New Drug Approval programmes reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration and calculated all-cause and suicide/non-suicide mortality rates per 100,000 patient-exposure-years (PEY) for seven diabetes, 12 hypertension, 11 depression, and nine schizophrenia programmes (126,151 patients, 63,106.3 PEY).Results: Depression (894.8 ± 201.2) and schizophrenia (935.3 ± 214.6) had significantly higher all-cause mortality rates than diabetes (462.8 ± 70.8) and hypertension (448.4 ± 123.1). Psychiatric conditions had 1.9-2.1× the medical conditions' mortality (p < 0.001). Non-suicide mortality rates for depression (506.2 ± 151.3), schizophrenia (550.9 ± 164.7), diabetes (457.2 ± 70.4) and hypertension (430.8 ± 120.6) were comparable. Only antidiabetics showed a signal for all-cause mortality (reduction of 37%, p = 0.008).Conclusions: Depression and schizophrenia trial patients had comparable (if not higher) all-cause mortality rates as older populations in diabetes and hypertension trials, even when excluding suicides. While generalizability of the rates themselves is limited, this study can adequately estimate the relational mortality among these conditions because of the high internal consistency of clinical trials. Potential signals for mortality reduction with active treatment should be considered for all investigational medications for chronic conditions with increased mortality, including psychotropics.

Physical inactivity as risk factor for mortality by diabetes mellitus in Brazil in 1990, 2006, and 2016

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to estimate the mortality due to diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity in Brazil, to analyze these estimate in three points in time (1990, 2006 and, 2016), and to analyze these estimates according to the socioeconomic status of Brazilian states.

METHODS

All deaths and diseases recorded in Brazil during this period were analyzed. Surveys of the general adult population using random sampling procedures evaluating self-reported physical activity in all life domains in Brazil were included. The total number and the age-standardized rates of deaths, and population-attributable fraction (PAF) for diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity in the years 1990, 2006, and 2016 were estimated. Socioeconomic Development Index (SDI) was used as an indicator of socioeconomic status of Brazilian states.

RESULTS

In relation to mortality due to diabetes mellitus attributed to physical inactivity, 736 deaths were estimated in 1990, 1337 deaths were estimated in 2006, and 1897 in 2016, which represented, in 1990, an age-standardized mortality rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) of 1.2, 2.1 in 2006, and 1.1 in 2016. Approximately 3.0% (PAF) of deaths due to diabetes mellitus could be avoided if the Brazilian population were physically active. In 2006 and 2016, Brazilian states with worst socioeconomic indicators had higher age-standardized mortality rate by diabetes mellitus due to physical inactivity.

CONCLUSION

These findings are the first to estimate the burden of diabetes mellitus due to physical inactivity in Brazil and support the promotion of physical activity in the Brazilian population to prevent and manage diabetes mellitus.

Effectiveness and Safety of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex) in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema: A Real-World Experience

INTRODUCTION

There are few real-life studies on the intravitreal 0.7-mg dexamethasone implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) conducted in Latin America. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of this implant in clinical practice.

METHODS

Twenty-seven centers from Brazil and one from Argentina provided information on patients with DME treated with Ozurdex. The efficacy outcome variables were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in Snellen and central retinal thickness (CRT). Safety was assessed by the elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP), occurrence of cataracts, and adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 329 eyes (both treated cases and naïve eyes) from 282 patients underwent treatment. The time since diagnosis of DME ranged from 1 to 156 months. The median BCVA was 0.7 logMAR/50 letters at baseline and 0.3 logMAR/70 letters after treatment (both p < 0.001). Median CRT values decreased from 425 µm at baseline to 270 µm after treatment (p < 0.001). Increases in IOP of at least 10 mm Hg were observed in 7.4% of eyes, and 4% of eyes had cataract evolution. No cases of endophthalmitis were reported.

CONCLUSION

These real-life results suggest that the intravitreal dexamethasone implant is effective and safe for eyes with DME.

Quality of Care of Patients with Diabetes in Primary Health Services in Southeast Brazil

Background

Diabetes management involves multiple aspects that go beyond drug therapy as a way of providing high quality care. The objective of this study was to describe quality of care indicators for individuals with diabetes in southeast Brazil and to explore associations among these indicators.

Methods

In this cross-sectional, observational study, health care providers filled out a questionnaire addressing health care structure and processes at 14 primary health care units (PHCUs). Clinical and laboratory data of diabetic patients attending the PHCUs and from patients referred to a secondary health care (SHC) center were collected.

Results

There was a shortage of professionals in 53.8% of the PHCUs besides a high proportion of problems regarding referrals to SHC. At the PHCU, glycated hemoglobin results were available only in half of the medical records. A low rate of adequate glycemic control was also observed. An association between structure and process indicators and the outcomes analyzed was not found.

Conclusion

Major deficiencies were found in the structure and processes of the PHCUs, in addition to unsatisfactory diabetes care outcomes. However, no association between structure, process, and outcomes was found.

Time trends in adult chronic disease inequalities by education in Brazil: 1998-2013

Background

Socioeconomic differences in health in Brazil are largely driven by differences in educational attainment. In this paper, we assess whether educational gradients in chronic disease prevalence have narrowed in Brazil from 1998 to 2013, a period of a booming economy accompanied by major investments in public health in the country.

Methods

Individual-level data came from the 1998, 2003 and 2008 Brazilian National Household Survey and the 2013 National Health Survey. We first evaluate age-standardized prevalence rates of chronic disease by education and second, we predict the estimated prevalence rate between those in low vs. high education to assess if relative changes in chronic disease have narrowed over time. Third, we estimate the slope index of inequality (SII) that evaluates the absolute change in the predicted prevalence of a disease between those in low vs. high education. Finally, we tested for statistically significant time trends in adult chronic disease inequalities by education.

Results

Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension have increased over the period, whereas the prevalence of heart disease decreased. Brazilian adults with no education had higher levels of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease than those with some college or more. Adjusted prevalence for hypertension and heart disease indicate some progress in reducing educational disparities over time. However, for diabetes, adjusted results show a continuously increasing educational disparity from 1998 to 2013. By 2013, individuals with no education had about two times higher diabetes prevalence than those with higher education with larger disparity among women.

Conclusions

Results confirm findings from previous work that educational inequalities in health are large in Brazil but also provide evidence suggesting some improvement in narrowing these differentials in recent times. Recent policies aiming at reducing the prevalence of obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption, and increasing physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables may increase the overall health and wellbeing of the Brazilian population. These programs are likely to be more effective if they target those with low socioeconomic status, as they appeared to be at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions, and promote educational opportunities.

Videoconferencing for Teens With Diabetes: Family Matters

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a developmental period associated with increased difficulty managing diabetes. During adolescence family functioning, including miscarried helping, family conflict, and acceptance of illness, is an important predictor of adherence to treatment recommendations. Multiple barriers exist to receiving behavioral health interventions to address suboptimal adherence. We hypothesized that behavioral family systems therapy-diabetes (BFST-D) delivered via telehealth would yield changes in family functioning that were not significantly different than changes in clinic-based treatment. Furthermore, that BFST-D would significantly improve overall family functioning.

METHODS

Ninety adolescent participants and their parents were randomized to receive BFST-D via telehealth or traditional (Clinic) treatment conditions. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to assess changes in mean scores across pre, post, and follow-up assessments. Mediation analyses were conducted using methods outlined by Sobel and were confirmed by bootstrapping.

RESULTS

Changes in miscarried helping, family conflict and adjustment to illness were not significantly different across groups. Overall, clinically significant improvements were identified in youth- and parent-reported miscarried helping, family conflict, and acceptance of illness. Reductions in family conflict mediated the relationship between changes in miscarried helping and acceptance of illness. In addition, improvements in family functioning were associated with changes in adherence and glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Results provide strong support for BFST-D (and similar interventions) delivered via telehealth as yielding outcomes no different than clinic-based treatment. In addition, further support was provided for the effectiveness of BFST-D.

Texting Adolescents in Repeat DKA and Their Caregivers

BACKGROUND

Text message interventions are feasible, preferable, and sometimes effective for youth with diabetes. However, few, if any studies, have examined the personalized use of text messages with youth repeatedly hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and their caregivers. This study characterizes the use of personalized text messages in Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH).

METHODS

Approximately 2 months of text messages sent to youth with repeat DKA and their caregivers were logged regarding the following text characteristics: (1) content, (2) intervention type, (3) timing, and (4) recipient characteristics.

RESULTS

NICH interventionists sent 2.3 and 1.5 texts per day to patients and caregivers, respectively. Approximately 59% of outgoing texts occurred outside of typical business hours, and roughly 68% of texts contained some form of support and/or encouragement. The relation between type of intended intervention and day/time of text was significant, χ(2)(2, N = 5,808) = 266.93, P < .001. Interventionists were more likely to send behavioral intervention text messages outside of business hours, whereas they were more likely to send care coordination and case management text messages during business hours.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically categorize and describe the personalized use of text messages with youth repeatedly hospitalized for DKA and their caregivers. Findings indicate that a promising treatment program for these youth frequently used text interventions to deliver praise and encouragement to patients and caregivers alike, often outside of typical business hours, and tailored text content based on patient and caregiver characteristics.

The changing face of diabetes complications

The global increase in type 2 diabetes prevalence is well documented, but international trends in complications of type 2 diabetes are less clear. The available data suggest large reductions in classic complications of type 2 diabetes in high-income countries over the past 20 years, predominantly reductions in myocardial infarction, stroke, amputations, and mortality. These trends might be accompanied by less obvious, but still important, changes in the character of morbidity in people with diabetes. In the USA, for example, substantial reductions in macrovascular complications in adults aged 65 years or older mean that a large proportion of total complications now occur among adults aged 45-64 years instead, rates of renal disease could persist more than other complications, and obesity-related type 2 diabetes could have increasing effect in youth and adults under 45 years of age. Additionally, the combination of decreasing mortality and increasing diabetes prevalence has increased the overall mean years lived with diabetes and could lead to a diversification of diabetes morbidity, including continued high rates of renal disease, ageing-related disability, and cancers. Unfortunately, data on trends in diabetes-related complications are limited to only about a dozen countries, most of which are high income, leaving the changing character for countries of low and middle income ambiguous.

Glycosaminoglycan remodeling during diabetes and the role of dietary factors in their modulation

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a significant role in various aspects of cell physiology. These are complex polymeric molecules characterized by disaccharides comprising of uronic acid and amino sugar. Compounded to the heterogeneity, these are variously sulfated and epimerized depending on the class of GAG. Among the various classes of GAG, namely, chondroitin/dermatan sulfate, heparin/heparan sulfate, keratan sulfate and hyaluronic acid (HA), only HA is non-sulfated. GAGs are known to undergo remodeling in various tissues during various pathophysiological conditions, diabetes mellitus being one among them. These changes will likely affect their structure thereby impinging on their functionality. Till date, diabetes has been shown to affect GAGs in organs such as kidney, liver, aorta, skin, erythrocytes, etc. to name a few, with deleterious consequences. One of the mainstays in the treatment of diabetes is though dietary means. Various dietary factors are known to play a significant role in regulating glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a keen interest to decipher the role of dietary factors on GAG metabolism. This review focuses on the remodeling of GAGs in various organs during diabetes and their modulation by dietary factors. While effect of diabetes on GAG metabolism has been worked out quite a bit, studies on the role of dietary factors in their modulation has been few and far between. We have tried our best to give the latest reports available on this subject.

Trends in mortality due to diabetes in Brazil, 1996-2011

BACKGROUND

Over recent decades, Brazilian mortality registration has undergone increasing improvement in terms of completeness and quality in cause of death reporting. These improvements, however, complicate the description of mortality trends over this period. We aim to characterize the trend in diabetes mortality in Brazil and its five regions in adults (30-69 years), from 1996 to 2011 after corrections for underreporting of deaths and redistribution of ill-defined causes and "garbage codes".

METHODS

Starting with official data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM) for adults aged 30-69 in the period 1996 to 2011 for diabetes (ICD-10 codes E10-14), we redistributed garbage codes using methods based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (2010), redistributed ill-defined causes based on recent Brazilian investigations of similar cases and corrected for underreporting using official estimates of deaths.

RESULTS

With these corrections, age-standardized mortality fell approximately 1.1 %/year for men and 2.2 %/year for women from 1996 to 2011. The rate of decline first accelerated and then decelerated, reaching stable rates in men and minimal declines in women from 2005 onward. Regional inequalities decreased during the period in both relative and absolute terms.

CONCLUSION

Mortality due to diabetes declined in Brazil from 1996 to 2011, minimally in men and considerably in women. The lesser declines in recent years may reflect the increasing prevalence of diabetes, and suggest that current efforts to prevent diabetes and minimize the impact of its complications need to be reinforced to ensure that declines will continue.