Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an increasing public health concern worldwide. Recently, the newly available antidiabetic drugs have started to influence the pharmacological treatment practice of T2DM. Until now, database analysis regarding T2DM was not performed in Hungary.

The aim of the study was to analyze the trends in annual incidence and prevalence of registered patients with T2DM in Hungary between 2001 and 2014. In addition, the prescribing patterns of glucose-lowering drugs for T2DM were also assessed. 

Annual incidence and prevalence of registered T2DM patients with antidiabetic treatment were evaluated. We analyzed all purchases of prescribed glucose-lowering drugs in pharmacies nationwide using databases of the National Health Insurance Fund. Then prescribing rates of different classes of antidiabetic drugs (including combinations) were established and compared yearly.

The number of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM decreased from 75,700 (2001) to 33,700 (2014), while prevalent T2DM cases continuously increased from 423,000 (in 2001) and plateaued in 2014 with a number of registered patients of 727,000. The standardized prevalence rate of T2DM increased from 4.2% to 6.4% in the investigated period. Among patients a female dominance (53%) was observed. The prevalence rate of T2DM increased with increasing age; in 2011 it was 20% in subjects with age of >70 years. Sulfonylurea-monotherapy decreased from 64% to 35% while metformin-monotherapy increased from 19% to 42% in this period. The most frequently used drug at first treatment initiation was metformin (66%) and sulfonylurea (16%) as monotherapy in 2014. DPP4-inhibitors were newly administered in 20,362 cases while GLP1-mimetics were newly used by 4,996 patients in 2014. Five years later after initiating sulfonylurea therapy between 2010 and 2014, metformin was more frequently used as second drug (39%) than sulfonylurea in patients with previous metformin treatment (22.9%).

Although the incidence of T2DM decreased, a significant increase in the number of prevalent cases of T2DM was observed from 2001 to 2014, probably due to better care and longer survival of patients with T2DM. The prescribing patterns of glucose-lowering drugs have changed over time in accordance with new guidelines.

Trends in incidence, prevalence and management of type 2 diabetes in Hungary from 2001 to 2014