Trends in Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes

Abstract

Marked reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality have occurred over the last 50 years.^1-11 It has been reported that adults with diabetes have experienced less decline in CVD mortality than those without diabetes.^12-15 Adults with diabetes are at a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of CVD events relative to those without diabetes^16-20 and are at about a 60% increased risk of early mortality.²¹ However, it is uncertain whether the lack of decline in risk among diabetes patients actually exists, as conclusions drawn from current data are methodologically limited due to use of self-reported diabetes status,^12,15 limited time span of data collection,¹² and assessment of cause of death via death certificate.^12,13