Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Czech Republic can be estimated from data reported by health care providers either to the statistical office or to health insurers. The latter include both diagnosis and prescribed drugs. Patient classification to a certain chronic condition based on consumption of drugs (Pharmacy-based Cost Groups classification) has been used in the Czech Republic for the purpose of redistribution of collected funds among health insurers since the beginning of 2018. This article compares prevalence of diabetes estimated from statistical data and from data reported to health insurers, and discusses current and future advantages and disadvantages of all methodologies. Diagnoses reporting in outpatient care are considered to be inaccurate, on the other hand peroral antidiabetics do not seem to be prescribed to all indicated patients. The appropriate approach to prevalence estimation from data reported to health insurers is becoming even more important after the creation of National Diabetes Register based on insurance data and the related abatement of direct reporting to the statistical office.
Keywords: PCG classification; diagnosis; pharmacotherapy; prevalence; type 2 diabetes mellitus.