Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and quality of care among Greenlanders and non-Greenlanders in Greenland.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the actual prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in Greenland as at 2014, and to evaluate the quality of diabetes care among Greenlanders and non-Greenlanders in Greenland, six years after a national diabetes program was initiated.


METHODS
The study was designed as an observational cross-sectional study based on review of data obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) in Greenland. All permanent residents of Greenland who as at October 2014 were registered with the diagnosis diabetes in the EMR (n=1071) were included in the study. The prevalence was calculated using the population in Greenland as at first of June 2014 as background population. Quality of diabetes care was determined using indicators proposed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.


RESULTS
The prevalence among Greenlanders aged 20-79years was 2.36% (95% CI 2.19-2.52) and significantly lower than the prevalence among non-Greenlanders in the same age group, which was 3.69% (95% CI 2.18-4.20). More Greenlanders than non-Greenlanders had glycosylated haemoglobin below 7.0% (53mmol/mol), blood pressure below 140/90mmHg and their blood pressure measured within the last year. No other differences in quality of diabetes care were observed between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A higher prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was observed among non-Greenlanders compared to Greenlanders, while no major differences were observed in quality of care between the two groups. The overall prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased compared to earlier studies. Continued monitoring of prevalence and quality of care is recommended.
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Queen Ingrid Primary Health Care Center, Nuuk, Greenland. Electronic address: Elizabeth_Viskum@me.com.
Elizabeth Sejr
ES
Viskum
Queen Ingrid Primary Health Care Center, Nuuk, Greenland; Greenland Center of Health Research Greenland, Institute of Nursing and Health Science, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland. Electronic address: Milp@peqqik.gl.
Michael Lynge
ML
Pedersen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000208:ethnology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
Diabetes mellitus; Greenland; Inuit; Prevalence; Quality of care