Large increase in the prevalence of self-reported diabetes based on a nationally representative survey in Hungary

To estimate and compare the prevalence of self-reported diabetes based on nationally representative surveys of the Hungarian adult population in 2002 (published data - Hungarostudy) and a survey in 2012.

A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interview survey on a stratified representative sample of community-dwelling adults (n=1000) in 2012. To describe self-reported diabetes prevalence and its temporal changes generalized linear models were used and results were compared to figures from Hungarostudy.

Age standardized prevalence of self-reported type 2 diabetes was 11.7% (95%CI 10.0-13.8%) without gender or rural-urban differences in 2012. People with self-reported diabetes were older than controls (mean [SE]: 63.9 [0.9] vs. 45.9 [0.3] years, p<0.0001). The prevalence of diabetes sharply increased after 40 years of age and peaked at age 70 (27.7% [2.5], p_age*age<0.0001). The prevalence of self-reported diabetes increased by 89% (OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.53-2.32) from 6.2 to 11.7% between the two surveys with the most pronounced increase in the age group 55-64 years (from 11.6 to 24.4%).

We reported an alarming increase in the prevalence of self-reported type 2 diabetes in the last decade that mostly affects working age people. If this trend continues, a major public health crisis in Hungary can be envisaged.