Growing prevalence and incidence of diabetes in Republic of Macedonia in the past 5 years based on data from the national system for electronic health records

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized with a rapid progression of prevalence in the past three decades, especially in countries with low-and middle-income. Next three decades, this number of diabetes in the world is expected to be doubled. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of diabetes are the primary way to prevent and delay cardiovascular complications. AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Republic of Macedonia, analyzing increasing trends in the past 5 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used the data from National electronic system e-health which was performed in late 2014, which gives us nearly precise data, and we made statistical analysis for diabetes in the past 5 years (2015–2019). RESULTS: In 2015, we have registered 103,480 patients with DM, in 2016, 108,130 patients, in 2017 114,408, in 2018, 119,999, and, in 2019, 124,450 patients with DM. About 95% of patients are with T2DM and 4, 1% with T1DM. According the data from state statistical office for population of Republic of Macedonia, the prevalence of T2DM for the years 2015–2019 is as follows: 5,66% in 2015, 6.13% in 2016, 6.55% in 2017, 7,06% in 2018, and 7,2% in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The number of registered patients with diabetes in the past 5 years has grown up for 20970 or 20%, in the past 5 years the number of patients with type 2 diabetes has grown up for 18272 patients or 11%. The prevalence of T2DM has increased for 1.54%. Involvement of primary health care professionals has improved the early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.