OBJECTIVES: This study’s objective was to examine the trended prevalence and incremental burden of hypertension (HTN) and obesity (BMI 25 or greater) among the type 2 diabetes (T2D) population in Japan

METHODS: Analyses used the Japan National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), part of PaCeR (Patient-Centered Research). Respondents in 2010 (n=25,000) and in 2017 (n=30,001) were age ≥ 18 years, using a stratified random sampling approach based on gender and age to ensure representativeness to the adult population in Japan. Only T2D respondents with weight information were included in analyses and patient groups were categorized based on co-morbidities: T2D only, T2D+HTN, T2D+Obesity, and T2D+HTN+Obesity. Regression modeling controlled for demographics, health behaviors, and additional comorbidities. Groups were compared on healthcare resource use and health status (Short Form [SF-12v2]and EQ5D).

RESULTS: Of patients with T2D (n=1,259), 37.3% did not report comorbidities (vs. 42.7% in 2010), 24.9% had T2D+HTN (vs. 18.4% in 2010), 18.5% had T2D+obesity (vs. 18.2% in 2010), and 19.3% had T2D+HTN+obesity (vs. 20.8% in 2010). Adjusting for covariates, T2D only patients had significantly higher mean PCS score (49.62) than patients with T2D+HTN (48.45), T2D+obesity (46.97), and T2D+HTN+obesity (46.80; p’s ≤ .026). EQ5D Index score was also significantly higher for those with only T2D (0.84) compared with T2D+HTN (0.81), T2D+obesity (0.81), and T2D+HTN+obesity (0.79; p’s ≤ .028). Significantly more average physician visits during the prior 6 months were observed in all comorbidity groups: T2D+HTN (11.09) T2D+obesity (12.00), and T2D+HTN+obesity (13.43) compared with patients with T2D only (9.34; p’s ≤ .018).

CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 7 years, the proportion of T2D patients having associated comorbidities (HTN and / or Obesity) has increased. Patients with more of these comorbidities had worse outcomes compared with patients with T2D alone. HTN, in particular, was significantly associated with the health status of T2D patients.