MORTALIDAD PREMATURA POR ANGIOPATÍA DIABÉTICA PERIFÉRICA EN CUBA EN LOS AÑOS 1990, 1995 Y 2000

. SUMMARY Background: peripheral diabetic angiopathy is the main cause of admission to Angiology medical service and may be a basic cause of death for patients with diabetes mellitus. Objectives: determine early mortality from peripheral diabetic angiopathy in Cuba in the years 1990, 1995 and 2000. Methods: a retrospective descriptive study of deaths from peripheral diabetic angiopathy, according to the mortality data from the National Division of Statistics, was carried out in which they were analyzed by age, sex and province. For the statistical analysis, the gross mortality rates and the potential years of life lost were calculated.Results: the highest early mortality rate was found in 1995, being predominant in females and in the 55-64 years group. The highest early mortality was observed in the City of Havana province whereas Cienfuegos province exhibited the lowest. Conclusions: The impact of peripheral diabetic angiopathy as a basic cause of death in Cuba was proved in this paper. This event is a useful evidence for the population's health situation analysis in relation to peripheral vascular diseases and dia- betes mellitus.