Prevalence of and secular trends in diagnosed diabetes in Italy: 1980-2013

Trends of diabetes in Beijing, China

BACKGROUND

The global rise in diabetes prevalence is a pressing concern. Despite initiatives like "The Healthy Beijing Action 2020-2030" advocating for increased awareness, treatment, and control, the specific situation in Beijing remains unexplored. This study aimed to analyze the trends in diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among Beijing adults.

METHODS

Through a stratified multistage probability cluster sampling method, a series of representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Beijing from 2005 to 2022, targeting adults aged 18-79 years. A face-to-face questionnaire, along with body measurements and laboratory tests, were administered to 111,943 participants. Data from all survey were age- and/or gender-standardized based on the 2020 Beijing census population. Annual percentage rate change (APC) or average annual percentage rate change (AAPC) was calculated to determine prevalence trends over time. Complex sampling logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between various characteristics and diabetes.

RESULTS

From 2005 to 2022, the total prevalence of diabetes among Beijing adults aged 18-79 years increased from 9.6% (95% CI: 8.8-10.4%) to 13.9% (95% CI: 13.1-14.7%), with an APC/AAPC of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1-3.2%, P <0.05). Significant increases were observed among adults aged 18-39 years and rural residents. Undiagnosed diabetes rose from 3.5% (95% CI: 3.2-4.0%) to 7.2% (95% CI: 6.6-7.9%) with an APC/AAPC of 4.1% (95% CI: 0.5-7.3%, P <0.05). However, diabetes awareness and treatment rates showed annual declines of 1.4% (95% CI: -3.0% to -0.2%, P <0.05) and 1.3% (95% CI: -2.6% to -0.2%, P <0.05), respectively. The diabetes control rate decreased from 21.5% to 19.1%, although not statistically significant (APC/AAPC = -1.5%, 95% CI: -5.6% to 1.9%). Overweight and obesity were identified as risk factors for diabetes, with ORs of 1.65 (95% CI: 1.38-1.98) and 2.48 (95% CI: 2.07-2.99), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of diabetes in Beijing has significantly increased between 2005 and 2022, particularly among young adults and rural residents. Meanwhile, there has been a concerning decrease in diabetes awareness and treatment rates, while control rates have remained stagnant. Regular blood glucose testing, especially among adults aged 18-59 years, should be warranted. Furthermore, being male, elderly, overweight, or obese was associated with higher diabetes risk, suggesting the needs for targeted management strategies.

Diabetes in China: epidemiology, pathophysiology and multi-omics

Although diabetes is now a global epidemic, China has the highest number of affected people, presenting profound public health and socioeconomic challenges. In China, rapid ecological and lifestyle shifts have dramatically altered diabetes epidemiology and risk factors. In this Review, we summarize the epidemiological trends and the impact of traditional and emerging risk factors on Chinese diabetes prevalence. We also explore recent genetic, metagenomic and metabolomic studies of diabetes in Chinese, highlighting their role in pathogenesis and clinical management. Although heterogeneity across these multidimensional areas poses major analytic challenges in classifying patterns or features, they have also provided an opportunity to increase the accuracy and specificity of diagnosis for personalized treatment and prevention. National strategies and ongoing research are essential for improving diabetes detection, prevention and control, and for personalizing care to alleviate societal impacts and maintain quality of life.

Inter-cohort shifts in chronic disease, dementia, and mortality

Previous work using U.S. data has identified generational shifts, reflected in inter-cohort changes, in the incidence and prevalence of diseases in older ages. This study extends previous findings to England by examining similar results in memory complaints, heart conditions, stroke, diabetes, lung disease, and cancer using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). We fit Cox proportional hazard models to the first eight waves (2002-2016) of the ELSA sample (n = 18,528). In addition to exploring shifts in disease incidence we also examine shifts in disease mortality. Both general and sex-related differences are examined. Disease incidence has increased for later-born cohorts in England, replicating similar trends in the U.S. Not all diseases showed differences between men and women, but when differences were identified, women had lower risks for disease. In comparison to the U.S. sample, disease trends in England are more negative (i.e. accelerated failure times) for more recently born cohorts. These results showing increasing incidence of disease among the later-born cohorts suggest the possibility of increased disease burden in coming years.

Using Photovoice to understand physical and social living environment influence on adherence to diabetes

Within the past several years, a considerable body of research on adherence to diabetes regimen has emerged in public health. However, the focus of the vast majority of these studies has been on the individual traits and attitudes affecting adherence. Still little is known on the role of the social and physical context in supporting or hindering diabetes self-management, particularly from a qualitative standpoint. To address these limitations, this paper presents the findings of a Photovoice study on a sample of 10 type 2 diabetic older adults living in a deprived neighbourhood of an Italian city. The findings reveal that the possibility to engage in diet, exercise and blood sugar monitoring seems to be more affected by physical and social elements of the respondents' environment than by the interviewees' beliefs and attitudes. Both environmental barriers and social isolation emerge as barriers to lifestyle changes and self-care activities related to blood sugar monitoring. The predominance of bonding social capital, the scant level of trust and the negative perception of local health services result in a low level of social cohesion, a limited circulation of health information on diabetes management and, consequently, in poor health outcomes.

Socio-economic inequalities in the use of drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases in Italy

Background

Since the use of medicines is strongly correlated to population health needs, higher drug consumption is expected in socio-economical deprived areas. However, no systematic study investigated the relationship between medications use in the treatment of chronic diseases and the socioeconomic position of patients. The purpose of the study is to provide a description, both at national level and with geographical detail, of the use of medicines, in terms of consumption, adherence and persistence, for the treatment of major chronic diseases in groups of population with different level of socioeconomic position. 

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to define the “prevalent” users during 2018. A longitudinal cohort study design was performed for each chronic disease in new drug users, in 2018 and the following year. A retrospective population-based study, considering all adult Italian residents (i.e. around 50.7 million people aged ≥ 18 years). Different medications were used as a proxy for underlying chronic diseases: hypertension, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Only “chronic” patients who had at least 2 prescriptions within the same subgroup of drugs or specific medications during the year were selected for the analysis. A multidimensional measures of socio-economic position, declined in a national deprivation index at the municipality level, was used to identify and estimate the relationship with drug use indicators. The medicine consumption rate for each pharmacological category was estimated for prevalent users while adherence and persistence to pharmacologic therapy at 12 months were evaluated for new users.

Results

The results highlighted how the socioeconomic deprivation is strongly correlated with the use of medicines: after adjustment by deprivation index, the drug consumption rates decreased, mainly in the most disadvantaged areas, where consumption levels are on average higher than in other areas. On the other hand, the adherence and persistence indicators did not show the same trend.

Conclusions

This study showed that drug consumption is influenced by the level of deprivation consistently with the distribution of diseases. For this reason, the main levers on which it is necessary to act to reduce disparities in health status are mainly related to prevention. Moreover, it is worth pointing out that the use of a municipal deprivation indicator necessarily generates an ecological bias, however, the experience of the present study, which for the first-time deals with the complex and delicate issue of equity in Italian pharmaceutical assistance, sets the stage for new insights that could overcome the limits.

Monitoring adherence to pharmacological therapy and follow-up examinations among patients with type 2 diabetes in community pharmacies. Results from an experience in Italy

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue, yet adherence to drugs and regular clinical follow-up is still suboptimal. This study aims to evaluate a community pharmacy programme for monitoring and enhancing adherence to prescribed pharmacological therapies and recommended examinations among patients with confirmed diabetes.

Methods

The intervention was conducted in different Italian areas between April 2017 and January 2018. All adult patients who entered a pharmacy with a personal prescription for any antidiabetic drug and agreed to participate, were interviewed. Those found to be non-adherent received counselling from the pharmacists. All patients were invited for a follow-up interview after 3 months.

Results

Overall, 930 patients were enrolled and completed the baseline interview. We found low rates of non-adherence, ranging from 8% to 13% for prescribed pharmacological therapies, and 11–29% for the recommended clinical examinations. Non-adherence to oral therapies was higher among younger and recently diagnosed patients; that to clinical examinations was higher in men, those with an intermediate duration of diabetes and less educated patients. Large geographical differences persisted after the adjustment for individual factors. Only 306 patients (32.9%) returned for the follow-up interview, most of whom were already adherent at baseline.

Conclusions

Poor adherence to drugs or clinical examinations is not easy to identify in the usual operating setting of community pharmacies. Furthermore, the majority of patients did not return for follow-up, making it impossible to evaluate the efficacy of the pharmacists’ counselling. It might be more effective to plan interventions addressed to specific subgroups of patients or areas.

Telemedicine and urban diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic in Milano, Italy during lock-down: epidemiological and sociodemographic picture

BACKGROUND

Since 2010, more than half of World population lives in Urban Environments. Urban Diabetes has arisen as a novel nosological entity in Medicine. Urbanization leads to the accrual of a number of factors increasing the vulnerability to diabetes mellitus and related diseases. Herein we report clinical-epidemiological data of the Milano Metropolitan Area in the contest of the Cities Changing Diabetes Program. Since the epidemiological picture was taken in January 2020, on the edge of COVID-19 outbreak in the Milano Metropolitan Area, a perspective addressing potential interactions between diabetes and obesity prevalence and COVID-19 outbreak, morbidity and mortality will be presented. To counteract lock-down isolation and, in general, social distancing a pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility and efficacy of tele-monitoring via Flash Glucose control in a cohort of diabetic patients in ASST North Milano.

METHODS

Data presented derive from 1. ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics of Italy), 2. Milano ATS web site (Health Agency of Metropolitan Milano Area), which entails five ASST (Health Agencies in the Territories). A pilot study was conducted in 65 screened diabetic patients (only 40 were enrolled in the study of those 36 were affected by type 2 diabetes and 4 were affected by type 1 diabetes) of ASST North Milano utilizing Flash Glucose Monitoring for 3 months (mean age 65 years, HbA1c 7,9%. Patients were subdivided in 3 groups using glycemic Variability Coefficient (VC): a. High risk, VC > 36, n. 8 patients; Intermediate risk 20 < VC < 36, n. 26 patients; Low risk VC < 20, n. 4 patients. The control group was constituted by 26 diabetic patients non utilizing Flash Glucose monitoring.

RESULTS

In a total population of 3.227.264 (23% is over 65 y) there is an overall prevalence of 5.65% with a significant difference between Downtown ASST (5.31%) and peripheral ASST (ASST North Milano, 6.8%). Obesity and overweight account for a prevalence of 7.8% and 27.7%, respectively, in Milano Metropolitan Area. We found a linear relationship (R = 0.36) between prevalence of diabetes and aging index. Similarly, correlations between diabetes prevalence and both older people depending index and structural dependence index (R = 0.75 and R = 0.93, respectively), were found. A positive correlation (R = 0.46) with percent of unoccupied people and diabetes prevalence was also found. A reverse relationship between diabetes prevalence and University level instruction rate was finally identified (R = - 0.82). Our preliminary study demonstrated a reduction of Glycated Hemoglobin (p = 0.047) at 3 months follow-up during the lock-down period, indicating Flash Glucose Monitoring and remote control as a potential methodology for diabetes management during COVID-19 lock-down.

HYPOTHESIS AND DISCUSSION

The increase in diabetes and obesity prevalence in Milano Metropolitan Area, which took place over 30 years, is related to several environmental factors. We hypothesize that some of those factors may have also determined the high incidence and virulence of COVID-19 in the Milano area. Health Agencies of Milano Metropolitan Area are presently taking care of diabetic patients facing the new challenge of maintaining sustainable diabetes care costs in light of an increase in urban population and of the new life-style. The COVID-19 pandemic will modify the management of diabetic and obese patients permanently, via the implementation of approaches that entail telemedicine technology. The pilot study conducted during the lock-down period indicates an improvement of glucose control utilizing a remote glucose control system in the Milano Metropolitan Area, suggesting a wider utilization of similar methodologies during the present "second wave" lock-down.

Multicomponent intervention provided by GPs to reduce cardiovascular risk factors: evaluation in an Italian large sample

BACKGROUND

The cardiovascular risk increases in a multiplicative way when patients present more risk factors simultaneously. Moreover, the General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in risk factors prevention and reduction. This work aimed to evaluate a multicomponent intervention in the Primary Care Department in an Italian Local Health Unit.

METHODS

A pre-post study was conducted in Northern Italy (2018). Patients were eligible if: aged between 30 and 60 years, not chronic patients, not affected by hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia. The GPs assessed body mass index, hypertension, abdominal obesity, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values, glycaemic values, smoking and exercise habit (T0). A counselling by GPs to at-risk patients and a multicomponent health education intervention were performed. Reassessment occurred after at least 3 months (T1). Main analyses were chi-squared tests for gender differences, McNemar or marginal homogeneity tests for changes in paired data (P < 0.05 as significant).

RESULTS

Participants were 5828 at T0 (54.0% females) and 4953 at T1 (53.4% females). At T0, 99.1% presented at least one risk factor. Significant changes in paired data were reported for each risk factor. The greatest improvement frequencies occurred in glycaemia values (51.0%) and hypertension (45.6%), the lowest in abdominal obesity (3.7%). Some differences were recorded between genders, e.g. females reported higher improvement frequencies in hypertension (P = 0.001) and abdominal obesity (P < 0.001), whereas males in physical activity (P = 0.011) and LDL values (P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

The results showed significant changes for each risk factor, both for men and women. GPs and multicomponent educational interventions could play a key role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Greece. Results of the First National Survey of Morbidity and Risk Factors (EMENO) study

AIMS

To report the results of the first national Health Examination Survey (HES) on the prevalence of diabetes, its pharmacologic treatment and level of control, as well as pre-diabetes in Greece.

METHODS

Data were derived from the National Survey of Morbidity and Risk Factors (EMENO), in a randomly selected, representative sample of the adult Greek population. Sampling weights were applied to adjust for study design and post-stratification weights to match sample age/sex distribution to the population. Non-response was adjusted by inverse probability weighting. Weighted prevalence estimates are provided.

RESULTS

A total of 4393 persons with HbA1c and/or fasting plasma glucose measurements were included. Total diabetes prevalence was 11.9% (95% CI: 10.9-12.9), known diabetes 10.4% (9.5-11.4), and unknown 1.5% (1.1-1.9), with considerable increase in older age groups and no difference between genders. Pre-diabetes prevalence was 12.4% (11.4-13.6). The majority of persons with known diabetes were receiving metformin. Of those with known diabetes (and measured HbA1c), 70.9% were well controlled (HbA1c <7.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

This first representative national HES showed high prevalence of diabetes in Greece, with low prevalence of unknown diabetes. Pre-diabetes prevalence is also substantial. These results will hopefully enable national authorities develop tailored and efficient strategies for disease prevention and management.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Associated Unfavorable Outcomes in Patients With Acute Respiratory Syndromes Due to Coronaviruses Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Only 3 types of coronavirus cause aggressive respiratory disease in humans (MERS-Cov, SARS-Cov-1, and SARS-Cov-2). It has been reported higher infection rates and severe manifestations (ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, and death) in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM). For this reason, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes comorbidity and its associated unfavorable health outcomes in patients with acute respiratory syndromes for coronavirus disease according to virus types.

METHODS

Systematic review of literature in Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scielo until April of 2020. We included cohort and cross-sectional studies with no restriction by language or geographical zone. The selection and extraction were undertaken by 2 reviewers, independently. The study quality was evaluated with Loney's instrument and data were synthesized by random effects model meta-analysis. The heterogeneity was quantified using an I 2 statistic. Funnel plot, Egger, and Begg tests were used to evaluate publication biases, and subgroups and sensitivity analyses were performed. Finally, we used the GRADE approach to assess the evidence certainty (PROSPERO: CRD42020178049).

RESULTS

We conducted the pooled analysis of 28 studies (n = 5960). The prevalence analysis according to virus type were 451.9 diabetes cases per 1000 infected patients (95% CI: 356.74-548.78; I 2 = 89.71%) in MERS-Cov; 90.38 per 1000 (95% CI: 67.17-118.38) in SARS-Cov-1; and 100.42 per 1000 (95% CI: 77.85, 125.26 I 2 = 67.94%) in SARS-Cov-2. The mortality rate were 36%, 6%, 10% and for MERS-Cov, SARS-Cov-1, and SARS-Cov-2, respectively. Due to the high risk of bias (75% of studies had very low quality), high heterogeneity (I 2 higher than 60%), and publication bias (for MERS-Cov studies), we down rate the certainty to very low.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of DM in patients with acute respiratory syndrome due to coronaviruses is high, predominantly with MERS-Cov infection. The unfavorable health outcomes are frequent in this subset of patients. Well-powered and population-based studies are needed, including detailed DM clinical profile (such as glycemic control, DM complications, and treatment regimens), comorbidities, and SARS-Cov-2 evolution to reevaluate the worldwide prevalence of this comorbidity and to typify clinical phenotypes with differential risk within the subpopulation of DM patients.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Spain in 2016 according to the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP)

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide, including in Spain, and this disease has become a major challenge for health care. In Spain, the computerization of medical records in primary care, in the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP), has made possible the diagnoses of diabetes in a representative sample of the nation as a whole. This article analyzes the prevalence of diabetes recorded in this database and compares the data of the different autonomous communities. The prevalence of diabetes in Spain is 6.66% of the total population assigned to primary care in the National Health System, is higher in men than in women (7.27% vs. 6.06%), and increases with age up to 80 years. There are significant differences in the adjusted prevalence of diabetes between autonomous communities, with lower prevalence rates in North and Central Spain and higher rates in the South and East, as well as the islands. The lowest prevalence is seen in Castile and Leon (4.51%), and the highest in the Canary Islands (9.72%).

Educational inequalities in the prevalence and outcomes of diabetes in the Emilian Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Studies carried out in Italy in the last decades reported an effect modification in the association between socioeconomic position and diabetes outcomes, and the disease integrated care approach has been suggested as an explanatory factor. Whether this is true in Emilia-Romagna region in recent years is unknown and the aim of this study is to describe the role of educational level both on diabetes prevalence and health outcomes among the adult population with and without diabetes enrolled in the Emilian Longitudinal Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Inequalities in diabetes prevalence were evaluated through standardised estimates and prevalence ratios by educational level and inequalities in outcomes through standardised hospitalisation and mortality ratios and rate ratios by educational level. The lower the education the greater the diabetes prevalence; such differences were larger among women and younger age groups. Diabetes conferred a higher risk of hospitalisation and mortality; those outcomes also presented a social gradient with the less educated bearing the higher risk. However, educational differences were slightly stronger among the disease-free subjects, especially in the case of mortality. In both genders, inequalities tended to disappear with age.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that diabetes increases the risk of unfavourable outcomes, but does not increase social inequalities in outcomes as might be expected. Similarly to what has been previously shown, it is likely that the protective effect of diabetes on the negative health effects of the low social position is attributable to the disease integrated care approach.

Clinical burden of diabetes in Italy in 2018: a look at a systemic disease from the ARNO Diabetes Observatory

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and represents a challenge for patients and healthcare systems. This population-based study evaluated diabetes burden in Italy in 2018 by assessing all aspects of outpatient and hospital care.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We investigated data of 11 300 750 residents in local health districts contributing to ARNO Diabetes Observatory (~20% of Italian inhabitants). All administrative healthcare claims were analyzed to gather information on access to medical resources. Subjects with diabetes, identified by antihyperglycemic drug prescriptions, disease-specific copayment exemption and hospital discharge codes, were compared with age, sex and residency-matched non-diabetic individuals.

RESULTS

We identified 697 208 subjects with ascertained diabetes, yielding a prevalence of 6.2% (6.5% in men vs 5.9% in women, p<0.001). Age was 69±15 (mean±SD). As compared with non-diabetic subjects, patients with diabetes received more prescriptions of any drugs (+30%, p<0.001), laboratory tests, radiologic exams and outpatient specialist consultations (+20%, p<0.001) and were hospitalized more frequently (+86%, p<0.001), with a longer stay (+1.4 days, p<0.001). Although cardiovascular diseases accounted for many hospital discharge diagnoses, virtually all diseases contributed to the higher rate of hospital admissions in diabetic subjects (235 vs 99 per 1000 person-years, p<0.001). Healthcare costs were >2-fold higher in subjects with diabetes, mainly driven by hospitalizations and outpatient care related to chronic complications rather than to glucose-lowering drugs, diabetes-specific devices, or metabolic monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of diabetes in Italy is particularly heavy and, as a systemic disease, it includes all aspects of clinical medicine, with consequent high expenses in all areas of healthcare.

Opportunistic screening for type 2 diabetes in community pharmacies. Results from a region-wide experience in Italy

Background and aims

Given the paucity of symptoms in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, its diagnosis is often made when complications have already arisen. Although systematic population-based screening is not recommended, there is room to experience new strategies for improving early diagnosis of the disease in high risk subjects. We report the results of an opportunistic screening for diabetes, implemented in the setting of community pharmacies.

Methods and results

To identify people at high risk to develop diabetes, pharmacists were trained to administer FINDRISC questionnaire to overweight, diabetes-free customers aged 45 or more. Each interviewee was followed for 365 days, searching in the administrative database whether he/she had a glycaemic or HbA1c test, or a diabetologists consultation, and to detect any new diagnosis of diabetes defined by either a prescription of any anti-hyperglycaemic drug, or the enrolment in the register of patients, or a hospital discharge with a diagnosis of diabetes.

Out of 5977 interviewees, 53% were at risk of developing diabetes. An elevated FINDRISC score was associated with higher age, lower education, and living alone. Excluding the number of cases expected, based on the incidence rate of diabetes in the population, 51 new cases were identified, one every 117 interviews. FINDRISC score, being a male and living alone were significantly associated with the diagnosis.

Conclusions

The implementation of a community pharmacy-based screening programme can contribute to reduce the burden of the disease, particularly focusing on people at higher risk, such as the elderly and the socially vulnerable.

The Association Between Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Results From an Italian Cross-Sectional Study

Cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, and depression are among the most frequent clinical conditions in the Western world, often in comorbidity. Evidence regarding a shared pathophysiology suggests a mediating role by chronic systemic inflammation. The aims of this study were to measure the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms, cardiovascular risk factors, and inflammatory markers. Outpatients aged 40 years or more undergoing colonoscopy after positive fecal occult blood test were enrolled; the following data were collected: body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, carotid thickness, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Temperament and Character Inventory, INTERdisciplinary MEDicine Self-Assessment, and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores. Fifty-four patients were enrolled; 30.2% had anxiety symptoms, 18.9% depressive symptoms, and 9.4% concomitant anxiety-depressive symptoms. Anxiety symptoms were associated with low high-density lipoprotein levels. Depressive symptoms were associated with CRP levels, providing supporting evidence for the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of depression.