OBJECTIVES: Describe the trends in mortality from diabetes mellitus in the department of Bolívar, Colombia, from 2017 to 2022, and assess the factors associated with this mortality.

METHODS: The study on Bolívar's diabetes mortality from 2017 to 2022 employs official health data, focusing on deceased residents. It gathers demographic and health information, including socioeconomic status and comorbidities. Key variables are the number of deaths and age-specific rates, examining healthcare access and risk factors like obesity. Descriptive statistics and trend analyses depict the mortality patterns, using visual graphs and calculating yearly changes. This approach aims to understand diabetes' impact and guide public health interventions.

RESULTS: The provided data showcases the premature mortality rates from diabetes mellitus in Colombia and the department of Bolívar, with and without Cartagena, from 2017 to 2022. Across Colombia, there's a peak in 2020 (18.26 per 100,000 individuals) with a noticeable decline in 2022 (13.38). Bolívar's total rates are higher than the national average, reaching a maximum in 2020 (25.38) and then decreasing. Excluding Cartagena, the trend is similar, peaking in 2020 (24.81) and reducing thereafter. The data suggests a significant spike in mortality rates in 2020, possibly due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a reduction in subsequent years.

CONCLUSIONS: The data reveals a peak in premature diabetes mortality in Colombia and Bolívar in 2020, suggesting a health crisis, potentially exacerbated by the pandemic. Bolívar's rates generally exceed the national average, pointing to regional health disparities. A decline in mortality rates in both regions from 2021 to 2022 indicates possible improvements in diabetes management post-2020. Interestingly, Bolívar excluding Cartagena surpassed total Bolívar rates in 2022, hinting at changing local health dynamics. The data prompts further investigation into the factors affecting these trends, including healthcare policies and the effectiveness of diabetes interventions.