title: Incidence of diabetes in the Polish population: results of the Multicenter Polish Population Health Status Study--WOBASZ.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. It has been estimated that 2.2 to 2.5 million of Poles will be affected by this disease by 2030.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to conduct an epidemiological analysis of the incidence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in the Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 21,600 individuals (men and women) aged 20-74 years was randomly selected from the general Polish population. A total of 14,769 individuals took part in the study (6977 men and 7792 women). Diabetes was identified in individuals with fasting glucose equal to or exceeding 7 mmol/l and in those with previously diagnosed diabetes. IFG was identified in nontreated individuals with fasting glucose between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/l.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetes was diagnosed in 1000 individuals (6.8%), including 518 men (7.4%) and 482 women (6.2%). IFG was detected in 1401 individuals (9.5%), including 864 men (12.4%) and 537 women (6.9%). Incidence of diabetes increases with age: in men from 0.7% in those aged 20-29 years to 16.3% in those aged >60 years; in women from 0.5% in the youngest age group to 17.8% in the oldest group. Incidence of diabetes in Poland varies between the provinces--from 5.3% to 9% among men and from 4.2% to 7.5% among women. There was no significant correlation between the incidence of diabetes and the size of a particular local district (commune; gmina). Similar territorial differences were observed for IFG, i.e., from 5.8% to 20.8% among men and from 2.8% to 11.7% among women. As with diabetes, the incidence of IFG was not associated with the size of a commune.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence of diabetes and IFG in the study population varies depending on age, sex, and region. Incidence of diabetes in Poland is comparable to the average values observed worldwide.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention and Promotion of Health, Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland. mpolakowska@ikard.pl
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Polakowska
authors: Walerian
authors: W
authors: Piotrowski