A recent study led by Emma Cox from the School of Public Health at Sydney University has revealed that diabetes, particularly type 2, is far more prevalent in Australia than current national data suggests. The findings indicate that under-enrollment in the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) may be contributing to significant underreporting of the condition.
Using an innovative algorithm to analyze linked administrative data, the research team reviewed information from the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study, which tracks nearly 270,000 adults aged 45 and older. By combining this data with other sources—such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Medicare, and hospital admissions—the team created a more accurate estimate of diabetes prevalence in New South Wales (NSW).
Their analysis revealed that approximately 53,700 individuals in the cohort had diabetes. However, fewer than 35,000 of these individuals were registered with the NDSS, meaning that only about 65% were captured in the national registry. Based on these findings, the researchers estimate that nearly 2 million Australians aged 45 and over could be living with diabetes, more than double the current NDSS estimate of 1.3 million.
Dr. Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, a chronic disease epidemiologist, emphasized that the underreporting of diabetes in national datasets is not new. He noted that many individuals face barriers to enrolling in the NDSS, leading to significant numbers going unrecorded. Meyerowitz-Katz also pointed out that while the study’s findings offer a solid estimate, the situation could vary in other states outside of NSW.
Professor Grant Brinkworth, director of research at Diabetes Australia, highlighted the importance of accurately understanding the true scale of diabetes in the country. “If people aren’t visible in the data, they’re also invisible to policy and funding decisions,” he stated, stressing that this issue needs to be addressed to improve outcomes and manage the national impact of the disease.
This research underscores the urgent need for better data collection and targeted public health interventions to address the growing diabetes crisis in Australia.
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