Estimation of Diabetes Prevalence, and Evaluation of Factors Affecting Blood Glucose Levels and Use of Medications in Japan

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a noncommunicable disease caused by high levels of blood glucose, and it is currently one of the most important public health problems in the world. It is important to know the prevalence of diabetes, the factors affecting blood glucose levels, and the percentage of people with diabetes taking medications. Data and Methods Data and Methods: We analyzed the distribution of blood glucose levels and prevalence of diabetes using 10,917,173 observations obtained from the JMDC Claims Database in Japan. The factors that may affect blood glucose levels were analyzed by a regression model using 5,472,205 observations. Treatment with diabetes medications was analyzed with 9,932,854 and 5,466,361 observations using a method to approximate the inverse of probability by a continuous piecewise linear function. Results: The prevalence of diabetes in 2019 was estimated to be 9.63% in males and 5.33% in females ages 20 - 79; 10.78% and 7.04% for ages 20 - 89; and 10.93% and 7.65% for ages 20 - 99, respectively. In addition to age and gender, the important variables affecting blood glucose levels were BMI , SBP , Triglyceride , ALT , AST and GGP . The percentage taking medications increased up to a blood glucose level of around 175 mg/dL, but declined over that. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes in Japan was estimated using a very large dataset, and considering age, gender, and time trends. Some variables may be effective for controlling blood glucose levels. Nearly half of those at a serious stage of diabetes took no medications. Proper medical care for these individuals is necessary to prevent worsening diabetes and serious complications. Limitations: The dataset was observatory, and did not include those age 80 or over. Revising medical care systems to include those outside of hospitals is necessary; however, practical approaches have not yet been developed.