Abstract
Aims: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to determine any sex-specific differences in this association.
Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with T2DM and investigated the annual death data for seven years starting from 2010. All-cause mortality was calculated using Life Tables analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify the association between BMI and mortality.
Results: During a mean survey period of 7.33 ± 1.42 years (X± SD), 996 of the 17259 patients enrolled died, resulting in an all-cause mortality rate of 5.77%, with no significant difference between women and men (6.04% vs. 5.56%; x
2
= 1.766, P = 0.184). The top three causes of death were ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic kidney failure. A total of 87, 266, 332, and 311 patients with a BMI of <18.5, 18.5-23.99, 24.0-27.99, and ≥28.0 kg/m
2
, respectively, died, with the corresponding mortality rate calculated at 15.45%, 3.30%, 5.80%, and 10.70%, respectively. The BMI value associated with the highest all-cause mortality was <18.5 kg/m
2
, but this association was only significant in women aged <50 years (HR: 3.12; 95% CI, 1.62-4.34; P < 0.001).
Conclusions: In patients with T2DM, a low BMI in women aged <50 years predicted high all-cause mortality.