Stavros Liatis1, George E Dafoulas2, Chara Kani3, Anastasia Politi3, Panagiota Litsa3, Petros P Sfikakis2, Konstantinos Makrilakis2. 1. First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Diabetes Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: sliatis@med.uoa.gr. 2. First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Diabetes Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 3. Medicines Department, National Organization for Health Care Services Provision, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
AIMS: Epidemiological data regarding diabetes in Greece are based on regional, small-scale studies. We aimed to identify all citizens with prescribed pharmacological treatment for diabetes, to further explore type 1 diabetes prevalence and describe pharmacological treatment patterns in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The electronic prescription database of the National Organization for Health Care Services Provision was used to identify individuals who received at least two prescriptions with an ICD-10 code relevant to diabetes, dispensed between June 1st, 2014 and May 31st, 2015. Type-1 diabetes was defined in those receiving at least two fully-reimbursable insulin prescriptions with an ICD-10 code of E10 (insulin-dependent diabetes). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 10,222,779 individuals, accounting for 95% of the Greek population. Prevalence of medication-prescribed diabetes was 7.0% (720,764 individuals), ranging from 0.08% in children and adolescents, to 8.2% in adults, and 30.3% in those ⩾75years old. Prevalence of type 1 diabetes was 0.24%, with a clear male predominance and more than half of cases developing after 14years of age. Metformin was the most frequently prescribed medication (77.4%) in type-2 diabetes followed by DPP-4 inhibitors (44.8%) and sulphonylureas (34.5%), while insulin was used by 19.4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This nation-wide real-world data analysis on medication-prescribed diabetes demonstrates that the current prevalence in Greece is 7.0%, with wide age variation and high figures in older adults. Identification of pharmacological patterns among patients with type 2 diabetes is a valuable guide in policy-makers' efforts to balance a cost-effective, quality-acceptable disease management.
AIMS: Epidemiological data regarding diabetes in Greece are based on regional, small-scale studies. We aimed to identify all citizens with prescribed pharmacological treatment for diabetes, to further explore type 1 diabetes prevalence and describe pharmacological treatment patterns in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The electronic prescription database of the National Organization for Health Care Services Provision was used to identify individuals who received at least two prescriptions with an ICD-10 code relevant to diabetes, dispensed between June 1st, 2014 and May 31st, 2015. Type-1 diabetes was defined in those receiving at least two fully-reimbursable insulin prescriptions with an ICD-10 code of E10 (insulin-dependent diabetes). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 10,222,779 individuals, accounting for 95% of the Greek population. Prevalence of medication-prescribed diabetes was 7.0% (720,764 individuals), ranging from 0.08% in children and adolescents, to 8.2% in adults, and 30.3% in those ⩾75years old. Prevalence of type 1 diabetes was 0.24%, with a clear male predominance and more than half of cases developing after 14years of age. Metformin was the most frequently prescribed medication (77.4%) in type-2 diabetes followed by DPP-4 inhibitors (44.8%) and sulphonylureas (34.5%), while insulin was used by 19.4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This nation-wide real-world data analysis on medication-prescribed diabetes demonstrates that the current prevalence in Greece is 7.0%, with wide age variation and high figures in older adults. Identification of pharmacological patterns among patients with type 2 diabetes is a valuable guide in policy-makers' efforts to balance a cost-effective, quality-acceptable disease management.
Authors: Chris J Kapelios; Ioannis Kyriazis; Ioannis Ioannidis; Charilaos Dimosthenopoulos; Erifili Hatziagelaki; Stavros Liatis Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Pirjo Hakkarainen; Reijo Sund; Martti Arffman; Sari Koski; Vilma Hänninen; Leena Moilanen; Kimmo Räsänen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-10-12 Impact factor: 3.295