A comparison of disease prevalence in general practice in the Netherlands and in England and Wales

Abstract

General practice-based morbidity surveys have been conducted in the Netherlands and in England and Wales primarily to estimate disease prevalence and examine health inequalities. We have compared disease prevalence in general practice reported in the second Dutch Natinal Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) with prevalence data collected in the same year (2001) in the Weekly Returns Service (WRS) in England and Wales. Diseases were selected according to interest and compatibility of classification (International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-1), DNSGP-2; Read-International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9, WRS). Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates were standardised to the national census population of England and Wales (2001). Differences between the surveys were determined from non-overlapping 99% confidence intervals. Although many small differences we identified, the similarities were more striking. Important differences included higher prevalence of lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, mental disorders. and musculoskeletal conditions in the Netherlands, and lower prevalence of prostate cancer (but not of benign prostatic hypertrophy), hypothyroidism and respiratory infections. Some of the differences identified may have been influenced by the use of different classification systems, others may relate to different consulting behaviour, and some reflect true national differences. (aut. ref.)