O-40 Determinants of Long-term Mortality in Barbados

Methods:  The study combines data from the Health of the Nation study (2011-2013) with mortality statistics obtained from national records in December 2022. Logistic analyses were used to determine the association between multiple risk factors and all-cause mortality after more than a decade follow-up.

Results:  Vital status data was available for 97.32% of participants, with the remaining 2.68% assumed alive. Of the 1233,  127 including 70 (9.2%) women and 57 (12.1%) men died during the 12 years of follow-up, with a mortality rate of 10.58%. Those who died were older, had higher levels of baseline systolic BP and HbA1c. Univariable analyses indicated that age [odd ratio (95% confidence intervals); 1.12 (1.10, 1.14)], hypertension [3.56 (2.4, 5.28)], stroke [3.05 (1.29, 6.64)], high cholesterol [2.68 (1.83, 3.94)], systolic blood pressure (per 1 mmHg) [1.03 (1.02, 1.03)] and HbA1C (%) [1.26 (1.14, were directly associated with mortality. In a multivariable model, hypertension [1.75 (1.05, 2.92)], and diabetes [1.68 (1.01, 2.78) independent of age (1.12 (1.10, 1.14, per year), sex [1.93 (1.20, 3.11), male) and level of education (tertiary vs primary: 0.55 (0.30, 0.99) were associated with increased risk of death. Education level attainment at the secondary vs primary and smoking were not associated with mortality in this model.                                       

Conclusion:  The findings here emphasise the importance of early, effective health interventions and policies on reducing levels of NCDs including hypertension and diabetes to mitigate against the significant burden of premature morbidity and mortality.