On the causes of death in 3,254 diabetics in berlin as shown by post mortem findings

From 1956 to 1970, 15,638 diabetics died in East Berlin; 5,462 were men and 10,176 women; 3,254 of these patients (1,107 men and 2,147 women) were submitted to post mortem in order to establish the cause of death and the complications. Average age at onset of overt diabetes in cases undergoing post mortem was 63.4 years, average age at death, 70.7 years. The most frequent chief cause of death was myocardial infarction accounting for 21%. Diabetic coma was responsible for the fatal outcome in 1.7%, kidney disease in 5.4% and malignant tumors in 6% of the cases. The correlation of causes of death to age at death and duration of diabetes was also examined. Further indications on the prevalence of complications were obtained from the evaluation of all post mortem findings, including those of minor importance. Coronary changes occupied the first place with a frequency of 66%. The correlation of post mortem findings to age at death and duration of diabetes was equally studied.