Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

Aims/hypothesis: Increasing diabetes prevalence has been reported in most European countries in the last 20 years. In this study we report on the development of prevalence and incidence of diabetes from 1972 to 2001 in Laxå, a rural community in central Sweden. Materials and methods: A diabetes register was established at the primary healthcare centre (PHCC) in Laxå, beginning in 1972 and based on data from clinical records at the PHCC, nearby hospitals and private practitioners in the area. In addition, case-finding procedures involving 85% of the residents aged 35 to 79 years old was performed from 1983 onwards. Results: During the study period a total of 776 new diabetes cases was found, 36 type 1 diabetes mellitus and 740 type 2 diabetes mellitus. The age-standardised incidence rates for type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus were 0.15 and 3.03 cases per 1,000 population, respectively. No increase in incidence over time was detected for either forms of diabetes. Age-standardised prevalence for women and men increased from 28.3 and 25.9, respectively, per 1,000 in 1972 to 45 and 46.3 per 1,000 in 1988 (p<0.0001), thereafter falling to a mean of 43.5 per 1,000 for women, while men had a mean of 44.9 per 1,000 for the rest of the study period. Conclusions/interpretation: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Laxå is high, but has not increased during the last 13 years. The incidence rate was relatively stable over the whole 30-year period.

OBJECTIVE - Mortality rates have declined substantially over the Past decades in the general population, but the situation among diabetic subjects is less clear. The aim of this study was to analyze mortality trends in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects during 1972-2004. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Since 1972, all patients With diabetes are entered in a diabetes register at Laxa Primary Health Care Center; 776 incident cases were recorded Up to 2001. The register has been supplemented with a nondiabetic population of 3,880 subjects and with data from the National Cause of Death Register during 1972 to 2004. RESULTS - During the 33-year follow-up period, 233 (62.0%) diabetic women and 240 (60.0%) diabetic men and 995 (52.9%) nondiabetic women and 1,082 (54.1%) nondiabetic men died. The age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality among diabetic and nondiabetic subjects was 1.17 (P < 0.0021) for all, 1.22 (P < 0.007) for women, and 1.13 (P = 0.095) for men. The corresponding cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality HRs were 1.33 (P < 0.0001), 1.41 (P < 0.0003), and 1.27 (P < 0.0093), respectively. The CVD Mortality reduction across time was significant in nondiabetic subjects (P < 0.0001) and in men with diabetes (P = 0.014) but not in diabetic women (P = 0.69). The results regarding coronary heart disease (CHD) were similar (P < 0,0001, P < 0.006, and P = 0.17, respectively). The CVD and CHD mortality rate change across time was fairly linear in all groups. CONCLUSIONS - Diabetic subjects had less mortality rate reduction during follow-up than nondiabetic subjects. However the excess mortality risk for diabetic subjects was smaller than that found in Other Studies.

Aims: To analyse the effects of hyperglycaemia and blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension treatment on total and various types of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence in patients with type 2 diabetes followed for 30 years.

Methods: 740 incident patients with type 2 diabetes were registered at the Laxå Primary Health Care Centre, Sweden between 1972 and 2001. Annual information on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), mean fasting blood glucose (FBG), type of diabetes and hypertension treatment was obtained from the patient records, and information on CVD, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke events from National Registers.

Results: During the follow-up period cumulative CVD incidence increased significantly with male sex (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.21-1.82), number of previous CVD events (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.18) age (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.07), mean FBG (HR 1.05, 96% CI 1.00-1.10) BMI, (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06), MABP (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), and decreased significantly with metformin treatment (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.90) and sulfonylurea (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.97). Cumulative MI incidence increased significantly with male sex, number of previous MI events, mean FBG, BMI, age, and MABP, and decreased with metformin treatment. Cumulative stroke incidence increased with previous number of stroke events, age, and MABP.

Conclusions: Cumulative CVD and MI incidence increased with number of previous events and presence of hypertension and hyperglycaemia and decreased with pharmacological diabetic treatment. For stroke, previous number of events increased the incidence but no pharmacological protective effect was seen.

Objective

Screening for type 2 diabetes among high-risk subjects is recommended by many organizations. The aim of this study was to analyse all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in type 2 diabetes subjects detected by screening and those clinically diagnosed during 30 years of follow-up.

Research design and methods

A diabetes register was established at the primary healthcare centre (PHCC) in Laxå, beginning in 1972 and based on data from clinical records with information on medical treatment and laboratory data as well as information on all-cause mortality, CVD, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke events from National Registers. A total of 740 incident patients with type 2 diabetes were registered between 1972- 2001. In addition, case-finding procedures involving 85% of residents aged 35 to 79 were performed from 1983 onwards.

Results

Baseline characteristics showed a significantly higher CVD risk, mainly depending on more prevalent CVD events in the screened as compared with the clinically detected group (propensity score 0.59 vs. 0.46, p<0.0001). After a mean follow-up of 10 and 11.5 years for screening detected and clinically detected subjects respectively, HRs incidences were for all-cause mortality 1.01 (p=0.97), CVD 1.00 (p=0.99), and MI 1.03 (p=0.87). For stroke a 24% non-significant lower risk for screening detected as compared with clinically detected subjects were found, HR 0.76 (p=0.15).

Conclusions

No reduction in total mortality and CVD outcomes was found in type 2 diabetes subjects detected by screening as compared with those clinically diagnosed, even though stroke incidence tended to be lower.