PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF NIDDM IN ICELAND - EVIDENCE FOR STABLE INCIDENCE AMONG MALES AND FEMALES 1967-1991 - THE REYKJAVIK STUDY

This is the first large survey carried out in Iceland to estimate the prevalence and incidence of known and unknown non-insulin-dependent (T ype 2) diabetes (NIDDM) among males and females, aged 34-79. The popul ation in this survey was 9128 males and 9759 females born between 1907 and 1935 and examined in the prospective Reykjavik Study 1967-1991. P articipants were invited from one to five times during the 24 years. T he overall age-standardized prevalence (95% confidence limits) was 2.9 % (2.5 to 3.3) for males and 2.1% (1.8 to 2.5) for females, aged 30-79 , according to the European standard population. The overall annual ag e-standardized incidence rate per 100 000 was 377 (303 to 457) for mal es and 266 (212 to 320) for females, aged 35-74, standardized to the E uropean population. Our study indicates that the prevalence of NIDDM i s relatively low compared to other Nordic and western countries, and h as not been increasing over the past 20 years. Furthermore, the incide nce of NIDDM has not been changing during the past 20 years of follow- up among Icelandic males and females aged 34-79. (C) 1997 by John Wile y & Sons, Ltd.