Rising prevalence of diabetes: evidence from a Danish pharmaco-epidemiological database.
The prevalence of diabetes has increased worldwide. We have undertaken an epidemiological analysis of drug-treated diabetes in a well defined community. We present estimates of prevalence, incidence, and mortality of patients with such diabetes during 1993-, based on data for all 470000 people living in the county of Fyn, Denmark. Although prevalence increased (odds ratio: female, 1.026 [95% CI 1.020-1.032]; male, 1.041 [1.036-1.047]), mortality in those treated declined (rate ratio: female, 0.976 [95%CI 0.952-1.001]; male, 0.966 [0.943-0.990]). We did not identify a clear trend for incidence. Future research into the causes of rising diabetes prevalence should take this fall in mortality into account to avoid incorrect conclusions about the relation between western lifestyle and the growing number of diabetics.
Støvring
Henrik
H
Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark. hstovring@health.sdu.dk <hstovring@health.sdu.dk>
Andersen
Morten
M
Beck-Nielsen
Henning
H
Green
Anders
A
Vach
Werner
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents