Age- and gender-adjusted comparison of Wisconsin native mortality with general Wisconsin population, for diabetes and diabetes-related causes of death--1986-1995.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED To compare mortality for diabetes and diabetes-related causes in Native American (NA) with total mortality for Wisconsin population by age, and gender. METHODS: Adjusting for age and sex, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for Wisconsin Native Americans for 1986-1995, using the 1990 total Wisconsin population as a reference and death certificate data to count and categorize deaths. RESULTS: Statistically significant high NA SMRs were found for total deaths (SMR = 1.28, p < .005), diabetes (SMR = 2.87, p < .005), heart disease (SMR = 1.16, p < .005), and kidney disease (SMR = 2.72, p < .005). There was substantial concordance in SMRs between men and women. NA SMRs were above 1 for all five year age groups below 75. Comparisons are provided with national data. CONCLUSION: Mortality due to diabetes mellitus, heart disease and kidney disease are higher among Native Americans in Wisconsin for all age groups below 75 and in both genders.