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. 2016 Aug;59(8):1692-701.
doi: 10.1007/s00125-016-3971-y. Epub 2016 May 18.

Incidence, prevalence and mortality of type 2 diabetes requiring glucose-lowering treatment, and associated risks of cardiovascular complications: a nationwide study in Sweden, 2006-2013

Anna Norhammar  1   2 , Johan Bodegård  3 , Thomas Nyström  4 , Marcus Thuresson  5 , Jan W Eriksson  6 , David Nathanson  4
Affiliations

Incidence, prevalence and mortality of type 2 diabetes requiring glucose-lowering treatment, and associated risks of cardiovascular complications: a nationwide study in Sweden, 2006-2013

Anna Norhammar et al. Diabetologia. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: The global diabetes epidemic affects countries differently. We aimed to describe trends in the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus requiring glucose-lowering treatment, together with associated life expectancy and risks of significant clinical complications.

Methods: Data on patients with type 2 diabetes who filled a prescription for any glucose-lowering drug (GLD) during the period 2006-2013 were extracted from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, Cause of Death Register and Swedish National Patient Register.

Results: In 2013, the prevalence of GLD-treated type 2 diabetes was 4.4% (n = 352,436) and the incidence was 399 per 100,000 population (n = 30,620). During 2006-2013, the prevalence increased by 61% while the incidence remained relatively stable; the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD, 34% in 2013) and microvascular disease (16% in 2013) was also stable. Insulin use increased by 29% while sulfonylurea use declined by 55%. Compared with the general population, patients with type 2 diabetes had increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and all-cause mortality, with age-standardised risks of ∼1.7-, 1.5- and 1.3-fold, respectively. These risks declined over time. Life-years lost due to diabetes was most pronounced at younger ages and improved in women over time from 2006 to 2013.

Conclusions/interpretation: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes requiring GLD treatment in Sweden increased substantially in recent years, while the incidence remained stable. Use of sulfonylurea declined while insulin use increased. The high prevalence of diabetes-related comorbidities, increased risk of complications and life-years lost highlights the need for optimised and new preventive strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Glucose-lowering therapy; Incidence; Life expectancy; Mortality; Prevalence; Type 2 diabetes.

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