Læknablaðið - 01.05.2021, Qupperneq 17
L ÆK N A BL AÐIÐ 2021/107 233
E N G L I S H S U M M A R Y
Bolli Þórsson1,2
Elías Freyr Guðmundsson1
Gunnar Sigurðsson1
Thor Aspelund1,3
Vilmundur Guðnason1,3
1Icelandic Heart Association, 2Landspitali- The National
University Hospital of Iceland, 3University of Iceland
Correspondence: Vilmundur Guðnason, v.gudnason@hjarta.is
Key words: Prevalence of type 2 diabetes, Incidence
of type 2 diabetes, Prescription Medicines Register,
Icelandic Heart Association.
Prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in Iceland 2005-2018
INTRODUCTION: The number of people with type 2 diabetes has increased in Iceland in
the last few decades. We utilized the national database on prescribed medication from the
Directorate of Health to estimate the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in Iceland
and made prediction on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Iceland in 10 and 20 years.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes for the period
2005-2018 was estimated based on prescriptions of diabetes medication in the national
prescription database containing all prescriptions in Iceland during the period. The result
was compared to the result from the REFINE-Reykjavik study (prospective, population-based
cohort study) from 2004 to 2011 and published data from the USA from 1980 to 2016.
RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes more than doubled in near all age groups in both
men and women in the period 2005-2018. The incidence increased by 2.8% annually (in 18-79
years old). The number of people in Iceland with type 2 diabetes was 10600 in 2018 and had
increased from 4200 in the year 2005.
Comparison with the results of the REFINE-Reykjavik study showed an underestimation (29%
in men and women) of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
If the increase in type 2 diabetes continues at a similar rate as in the years 2005-2018 the
number of people with diabetes in Iceland could be near 24000 in the year 2040.
CONCLUSION: Linear increase was seen in incidence and prevalence of people with type 2
diabetes in the years 2005-2018. Similar evolution was seen in USA from 1984. In order to
counteract the increase of type 2 diabetes following the same path as has been seen in the
USA, targeted measures are needed.
doi 10.17992/lbl.2021.05.634
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