Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the greater Bern region (Bern-Mittelland) 2010–2014

Objective: Concerning diabetes mellitus, one of the greatest burdens in public health in the 21st century, epidemiological data in Switzerland are scarce. To address this issue, this study intended to use a little-known but convenient way to quantify the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the Swiss region of Bern-Mittelland.

Methods: In a population of approximately 330,000 people, the prevalence for the years 2010–2014 in adult persons was estimated using the capture-recapture method based on data collected routinely at the University Hospital in Bern (Inselspital) using outpatient lists and the registry of persons insured with Helsana Insurance Group.

Results: The estimated prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 3.97% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.41–4.53%) in 2010, with a slight decrease to 3.65% (95% CI 3.24–4.06%) in 2014. An average of 3430 patients with diabetes or 26% of the total number appeared on at least one patient list. The remaining 74% were unknown patients identified by the capture-recapture method.

Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of diabetes mellitus was in a range comparable to national and international studies. Thus, administratively collected data in clinics and insurance companies constitute a convenient data source for epidemiological studies. In conjunction with the capture-recapture method an approach with comparatively low effort and costs for the surveillance of chronic disease can be provided.