Causes of death in young Australians with type 1 diabetes: a review of coronial postmortem examinations

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of death in Australians with type 1 diabetes mellitus who died aged 40 years or younger. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review of autopsy reports at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales, 1 January 1994-31 December 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Causes of mortality in people with type 1 diabetes aged <40 years. RESULTS: Of the 26 682 autopsy reports, 1914 were for individuals with diabetes (type 1, 400; type 2, 1514). Cardiovascular disease accounted for 51% of deaths (169/333) in people with type 1 diabetes aged >40 years, versus 13% among those aged