Comparison of disease prevalence, utilization of health care services and mortality rates in Latvian regions for persons with selected chronical diseases

To compare prevalence, utilization of health care services and mortality rates for patient with selected chronical diseases between regions in Latvia. Data from health system administrative data bases for selected chronic diseases were analyzed. Mean and range of utilization rates of outpatient services, hospital services and mortality rates by country regions per 10000 inhabitants were assessed. Estimated prevalence of selected chronical diseases varies between regions: for hypertension (I10) it is 1632 (1399-1787) , for diabetes mellitus (E11) it is 446 (399-552), for  asthma (J45) it is 269 (221- 329). Number of outpatient visits varies between regions from 602 to 824 for patients with hypertension (I10), from 577 to 1135 for patients with diabetes mellitus (E11) and from 456 to 757 for patients with asthma (J45). Hospitalization rates vary from 28,0 to 61,0 for hypertension (I10), from 7,3 to 12,3 for diabetes mellitus (E11) and from 8,5 to 18,8 for asthma (J45). Mortality rate varies from 33,8 to 57,7 for I10-I25 and 2,63 to 4,37 for diabetes mellitus. Estimated prevalence of selected diseases by regions differs by 15-30%, utilization of health care services differs by 80-280%. Higher utilization of services is not associated with lower mortality rates.