Head of PHARMO Research PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research Utrecht, Netherlands
Background: To better understand the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D), data on reliable trends regarding incidence and prevalence are vital. Knowledge regarding national trends in these epidemiological measures of T2D in the Netherlands is lacking.
Objectives: To update national trends in the incidence and prevalence of T2D in the Netherlands for the period 2004-2020.
Methods: The incidence and prevalence of T2D in the Netherlands between 2004-2020 was calculated using a cross-sectional design, which was repeated each year for the duration of the study period. Data for this study was obtained from the general practitioner (GP) data of the PHARMO Data Network. The PHARMO GP data includes records from a population-based cohort derived from electronic medical records from participating Dutch general practitioners. In addition, persons with T2D from the DIAbetes MANagement and Treatment cohort were identified. The DIAMANT cohort is a large and complete population-based, dynamic, prospective cohort of persons with diabetes, derived from the PHARMO GP data. Incidence was calculated by dividing new cases of T2D by the resident population at risk in PHARMO’s GP data during the calendar year of interest. Prevalence was calculated by dividing the total number of people with T2D in the DIAMANT cohort by the total number of residents in PHARMO’s GP data. Descriptive statistics with confidence intervals were used for all analyses.
Results: The number of residents in PHARMO’s GP data (e.g. population size) increased from nearly 950.000 in 2004 to >3.200.000 in 2020. The number of people with T2D increased from >21.000 in 2004 to >185.000 in 2020. In the period 2005-2009, the incidence rate varied between 3.5 and 4 per 1,000 persons for men and between 3.0 and 3.5 per 1,000 persons for women. From 2010 onwards, the incidence rate per 1,000 persons decreased from 4.5 for men and 3.5 for women in 2010 to 3.0 for men and 2.0 for women in 2020. Regarding prevalence, the prevalence of T2D in men increased from 2.3% in 2004 to 6.3% in 2020. In women, the prevalence increased from 2.2% in 2004 to 5.3% in 2020. These increases were more pronounced with increasing age.
Conclusions: During 2004-2020, the prevalence of T2D in the Netherlands more than doubled, with a decreasing incidence from 2010 onwards.
