Article Text
Abstract
Objective To estimate the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes using a national pharmacy claims database.
Research design and methods We used data from the Health Service Executive-Primary Care Reimbursement Service database in Ireland for this cross-sectional study. Prevalent cases of type 2 diabetes were individuals using an oral hypoglycemic agent, irrespective of insulin use, in 2012. Incident cases were individuals using an oral hypoglycemic agent in 2012 who had not used one in the past. Population level estimates were calculated and stratified by age and sex.
Results In 2012, there were 114 957 prevalent cases of type 2 diabetes giving a population prevalence of 2.51% (95% CI 2.49% to 2.52%). Among adults (≥15yrs), this was 3.16% (95% CI 3.15% to 3.18%). The highest prevalence was in those aged 70+ years (12.1%). 21 574 people developed type 2 diabetes in 2012 giving an overall incidence of 0.48% (95% CI 0.48% to 0.49%). In adults, this was 0.60% (95% CI 0.60% to 0.61%). Incidence rose with age to a maximum of 2.08% (95% CI 2.02% to 2.15%) in people aged 65–69 years. Men had a higher prevalence (2.96% vs 2.04%) and incidence (0.54% vs 0.41%) of type 2 diabetes than women.
Conclusions Pharmacy claims data allow estimates of objectively defined type 2 diabetes at the population level using up-to-date data. These estimates can be generated quickly to inform health service planning or to evaluate the impact of population level interventions.
- Type 2
- Epidemiology
- Incidence
- Administrative Data
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Footnotes
Contributors S-JS, PMK and SMcH conceived of and planned the study. S-JS carried out the analyses and wrote the paper. S-JS, PMK, SMcH, SB, RL and HW all reviewed/edited the manuscript.
Funding At the time the work was carried out, S-JS was funded under Health Research Board in Ireland under grant no. PHD/2007/16. PMK is funded under the Health Research Board Leadership Award in Diabetes (RL/2013/7). SMcH is funded by the Centre for Ageing and Development Research in Ireland (CARDI) Leadership Fellowship.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data sharing statement We have provided most of the raw numbers in the included table. We are happy to provide other aggregate level results for anyone who wishes to obtain them, within the limits of our own data agreements.