Prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The prevalence of previous or current primary hyperparathyroidism in 704 patients (390 male) with proven diabetes mellitus was 0.99% (7 patients, all female). One patient was known to have both disorders when the study commenced and 6 were discovered from the past history or by screening for hypercalcaemia. Diabetes was diagnosed at age 12 years or later, hyperparathyroidism from 45 years. Two patients were insulin-dependent. Diabetes preceded hyperparathyroidism in 3 patients, followed it in 2, and occurred during the same year in 2. The prevalence is significantly greater (p < 0.02 to <0.001) than that of hyperparathyroidism in general populations (0.10-0.36%). When adjusted for the age and sex distribution of the population of the Halton Health District the expected prevalence of 0.82% remains significantly greater, except for the general population with 0.36% prevalence (0.1 > p > 0.05). This increased three- to fourfold prevalence of hyperparathyroidism in diabetes arises mainly from females, in whom the prevalences at age 15 years or over and at age 45 years or over are 2.23% and 2.54%, respectively.