Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland
Abstract Introduction A large variation in diabetes prevalence by socioeconomic status (SES) persists internationally. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of diabetes by age and SES and explore the current levels of inequality in the prevalence of diabetes in Ireland. Methods Annual cross-se...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23022-6 |
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| author | Gintare Valentelyte Naomi Holman Steven James Nicholas Clarke Dominika Bhatia Kathleen Bennett Jan Sorensen Edward W. Gregg |
| author_facet | Gintare Valentelyte Naomi Holman Steven James Nicholas Clarke Dominika Bhatia Kathleen Bennett Jan Sorensen Edward W. Gregg |
| author_sort | Gintare Valentelyte |
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| description | Abstract Introduction A large variation in diabetes prevalence by socioeconomic status (SES) persists internationally. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of diabetes by age and SES and explore the current levels of inequality in the prevalence of diabetes in Ireland. Methods Annual cross-sectional self-reported diabetes data from the national population-based Healthy Ireland Survey for 2015–2023 (n = 59,933) were utilised. Highest educational attainment and area-based deprivation were used as SES indicators. Additionally, the differences in diabetes prevalence across population age-groups were reported. Socioeconomic differences and change in inequality over time were quantified using the relative index of inequality (RII). Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) for having self-reported diabetes according to age and SES, adjusted for sex and survey year. Results Diabetes prevalence was highest among individuals aged > 75 years (13.1%) compared to those aged < 40 years (1.0%). Similarly, prevalence was highest among the least educated (8.1%; RR = 2.73; 95% CI = 2.38, 3.13) compared to most educated (1.7%) and individuals living in most deprived areas (6.0%; RR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.76, 2.70) compared to least deprived areas (2.2%). Additionally, the magnitude of relative inequalities as determined by education level were more than twofold greater than the magnitude of inequalities determined by area-based deprivation. Relative inequalities among individuals with diabetes persisted over the period 2015–2023 among the least educated (RII = 3.9; 95% CI = 3.3,4.6) and individuals living in the most deprived areas (RII = 3.65; 95% CI = 2.4,5.5). A slight increase in relative inequalities among the least educated, and a slight decline in relative inequalities among the most deprived was observed, however, these changes over time were not statistically significant. Conclusion This is the first study to examine the socioeconomic variation of diabetes prevalence at the Irish population level. Significant differences in diabetes prevalence persist. With the ageing Irish population, this study highlights the need to consider potential effects of diabetes across the older populations and the lowest socioeconomic status groups when implementing equity-oriented diabetes prevention and management programmes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9d7241bde69428dbbf761258e4ecd39 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d9d7241bde69428dbbf761258e4ecd392025-08-20T03:45:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23022-6Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in IrelandGintare Valentelyte0Naomi Holman1Steven James2Nicholas Clarke3Dominika Bhatia4Kathleen Bennett5Jan Sorensen6Edward W. Gregg7Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesAbstract Introduction A large variation in diabetes prevalence by socioeconomic status (SES) persists internationally. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of diabetes by age and SES and explore the current levels of inequality in the prevalence of diabetes in Ireland. Methods Annual cross-sectional self-reported diabetes data from the national population-based Healthy Ireland Survey for 2015–2023 (n = 59,933) were utilised. Highest educational attainment and area-based deprivation were used as SES indicators. Additionally, the differences in diabetes prevalence across population age-groups were reported. Socioeconomic differences and change in inequality over time were quantified using the relative index of inequality (RII). Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) for having self-reported diabetes according to age and SES, adjusted for sex and survey year. Results Diabetes prevalence was highest among individuals aged > 75 years (13.1%) compared to those aged < 40 years (1.0%). Similarly, prevalence was highest among the least educated (8.1%; RR = 2.73; 95% CI = 2.38, 3.13) compared to most educated (1.7%) and individuals living in most deprived areas (6.0%; RR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.76, 2.70) compared to least deprived areas (2.2%). Additionally, the magnitude of relative inequalities as determined by education level were more than twofold greater than the magnitude of inequalities determined by area-based deprivation. Relative inequalities among individuals with diabetes persisted over the period 2015–2023 among the least educated (RII = 3.9; 95% CI = 3.3,4.6) and individuals living in the most deprived areas (RII = 3.65; 95% CI = 2.4,5.5). A slight increase in relative inequalities among the least educated, and a slight decline in relative inequalities among the most deprived was observed, however, these changes over time were not statistically significant. Conclusion This is the first study to examine the socioeconomic variation of diabetes prevalence at the Irish population level. Significant differences in diabetes prevalence persist. With the ageing Irish population, this study highlights the need to consider potential effects of diabetes across the older populations and the lowest socioeconomic status groups when implementing equity-oriented diabetes prevention and management programmes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23022-6Socioeconomic statusInequalitiesDiabetes prevalenceDeprivationIreland |
| spellingShingle | Gintare Valentelyte Naomi Holman Steven James Nicholas Clarke Dominika Bhatia Kathleen Bennett Jan Sorensen Edward W. Gregg Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland BMC Public Health Socioeconomic status Inequalities Diabetes prevalence Deprivation Ireland |
| title | Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland |
| title_full | Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland |
| title_short | Socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in Ireland |
| title_sort | socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence among the population in ireland |
| topic | Socioeconomic status Inequalities Diabetes prevalence Deprivation Ireland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23022-6 |
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