title: Regional differences in the prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes mellitus in 45-74 years old individuals: results from six population-based studies in Germany (DIAB-CORE Consortium).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Germany, regional data on the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus are lacking for health-care planning and detection of risk factors associated with this disease. We analysed regional variations in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and treatment with antidiabetic agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of subjects aged 45-74 years from five regional population-based studies and one nationwide study conducted between 1997 and 2006 were analysed. Information on self-reported diabetes, treatment, and diagnosis of diabetes were compared. Type 2 diabetes prevalence estimates (95% confidence interval) from regional studies were directly standardized to the German population (31 December 2007).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 11,688 participants of the regional studies, 1008 had known Type 2 diabetes, corresponding to a prevalence of 8.6% (8.1-9.1%). For the nationwide study, a prevalence of 8.2% (7.3-9.2%) was estimated. Prevalence was higher in men (9.7%; 8.9-10.4%) than in women (7.6%; 6.9-8.3%). The regional standardized prevalence was highest in the east with 12.0% (10.3-13.7%) and lowest in the south with 5.8% (4.9-6.7%). Among persons with Type 2 diabetes, treatment with oral antidiabetic agents was more frequently reported in the south (56.9%) and less in the northeast (46.0%), whereas treatment with insulin alone was more frequently reported in the northeast (21.6%) than in the south (16.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes showed a southwest-to-northeast gradient within Germany, which is in accord with regional differences in the distribution of risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the treatment with antidiabetic agents showed regional differences.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt-University, Greifswald, Germany. sabine.schipf@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schipf
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schunk
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisinger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thorand
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bokhof
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kluttig
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neuhauser
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ellert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Icks
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rathmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin