Prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal people in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia: a retrospective, longitudinal data-linkage study

Objectives To assess the prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal peoples in remote communities of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia.Design Retrospective cohort analysis of linked clinical and administrative data sets from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2019.Setting Remote health centres using the NT Government Primary Care Information System (51 out of a total of 84 remote health centres in the NT).Participants All Aboriginal clients residing in remote communities serviced by these health centres (N=21 267).Primary outcome measures Diabetes diagnoses were established using hospital and primary care coding, biochemistry and prescription data.Results Diabetes prevalence across all ages increased from 14.4% (95% CI: 13.9% to 14.9%) to 17.0% (95% CI: 16.5% to 17.5%) over 7 years. Among adults (≥20 years), the 2018/2019 diabetes prevalence was 28.6% (95% CI: 27.8% to 29.4%), being higher in Central Australia (39.5%, 95% CI: 37.8% to 41.1%) compared with the Top End region (24.2%, 95% CI: 23.3% to 25.1%, p