[Estimation of the incidence of diabetes in the Federal Republic of Germany based on insurance data. A secondary data analysis of a representative random sample of locally insured persons in the city of Dortmund].
All records relating to medical prescriptions and services relating to diabetes for a representative sample (n = 6478) of inhabitants of Dortmund in 1988, who were members of the Local Health Insurance in Dortmund, were analysed. 264 patients (4.08%) were receiving antidiabetic drugs during that year, 198 (3.06%) oral ones, 42 (0.65%) insulin and 24 (0.37%) both. 12.41% of all those insured over the age of 60 were on antidiabetic drugs, more women than men (5.08 vs 2.94%; P less than 0.001). The most frequently used oral antidiabetics were sulphonylurea ones (95.1%), while the proportion of biguanides was only 4.4%. On the basis of established diagnosis, regular blood sugar and HbA1 tests, as well as optic fundi examination, a further 104 persons (1.60%) are assumed to have diabetes but not treated by drugs. This sample indicates an overall prevalence of diabetes of 5.68% among the population. Relating it to the age and sex pattern of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany this corresponds to a prevalence of diagnosed diabetes of 4.82%. Thus there are probably a little less than 4 million diabetic citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Hauner
H
H
Klinische Abteilung des Diabetes-Forschungsinstituts, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Düsseldorf.
von Ferber
L
L
Köster
I
I
D000367:Age Factors; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005860:Germany, West / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Schätzung der Diabeteshäufigkeit in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland anhand von Krankenkassendaten. Sekundärdatenanalyse einer repräsentativen Stichprobe AOK-Versicherter der Stadt Dortmund.