Background

Type-2 diabetes is a progressive disease and very much linked to health equity prerequisites and poverty. Its long-term complications include cardiovascular diseases, blindness, amputation and kidney failure. The aim of the study was to explore diabetes type 2 (T2D) prevalence in Malmö, a socioeconomically diverse and multicultural city with a relatively young population.

Methods

The study is a part of the Cities Changing Diabetes project related to the 14 geographical developing areas CTC (Community That Care) in Malmö. The whole city has been divided into 14 areas based on socioeconomical homogeneity as well as shared local area affiliation. Results are obtained from the Patient Administrative System (ICD E11 code) in regional health care as well as from Statistics Sweden.

Results

The prevalence of T2D was 4.3% in 2018. It has increased since 2011 mostly noticeable for residents between 18 and 64 years of age. There are considerable differences in T2D prevalence by CTC-areas where the highest observed prevalence rate was 6.4% and the lowest was 2.6%. The areas with the lower prevalence rates have a high level of education as well as high average household income. The opposite is observed in the areas with the highest prevalence rates where the residents have lower educational level as well as low average income. Two of the three CTC-areas with the highest T2D prevalence rates consists of a younger population as compared to the city in general whereas the third consists of the oldest population in the city.

Conclusions

The prevalence of T2D has increased during the last decade in Malmö. There are significant differences in T2D prevalence within the city related to contextual and socioeconomic factors. The highest T2D prevalence occurs in the area with the lower income and lower level of education.

Key messages 

• Promotive actions need to be specifically targeted at younger populations in the city of Malmö to prevent the increase in type-2 diabetes and its complications.
• Contextual factors need to be taken into consideration in the development of sustainable primary and secondary preventive actions for type-2 diabetes in community care and the health care system.