Predictors of mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes in Jordan

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease associated with increased risk of mortality.

The aim of this study was to examine predictors of mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes in the north of Jordan.

Electronic data files for diabetes patients admitted between the period of 2014-2018 at a tertiary center in the north of Jordan were reviewed. Patient's characteristics, clinical and laboratory data, use of medications and mortality rate were collected.

Mean age of patients (n = 957) was 60.99 ± 0.37 (mean ± sem). Most of patients had multiple risk factors and underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Mortality rate was 10.1%. Univariate predictors of mortality included age, chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury, hypertension, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease, venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As the number of CVDs increases, mortality rate also increases (Odd ratio 2.0, p < 0.0001). Use of insulin, aspirin, ACEi/ARBS, beta blockers, and diuretics were also associated with mortality. Fasting glucose and percentage of glycated hemoglobin were not associated with mortality. By multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders and collinearity; age, HF, AF, COPD, VTE, and CKD were associated with mortality.

Key risk factors of mortality are CVDs and CKD indicating that the primary step of management should focus on optimizing risk factors to prevent diabetes complications and death.