Use of cardiovascular disease medications and mortality in people with older onset diabetes

Mortality follow-up for a cohort defined in 1980 with diabetes diagnosed at 30 years of age or older has been completed through 1988. History of medication use was obtained during the initial evaluation. There were 605 (44.2%) confirmed deaths; heart disease was the underlying cause in 49.9% of the deaths. Use of loop diuretics was associated with an odds ratio of death of 1.8 (95% CI = 1.4, 2.2). Although a causal relationship cannot be inferred, it is reasonable to suggest that blood chemistries be monitored regularly in persons on these drugs since electrolyte imbalance may be related to death.