Reporting new cases of anaemia in primary care settings in Crete, Greece: a rural practice study.

Background: Early diagnosis of anaemia represents an important task within primary care settings. This study reports on the frequency of new cases of anaemia among patients attending rural primary care settings in Crete (Greece) and to offer an estimate of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) frequency in this study group.

Methods: All patients attending the rural primary health care units of twelve general practitioners (GPs) on the island of Crete for ten consecutive working days were eligible to participate in this study.

Measuring the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a Greek primary health care district.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in developed countries, but in Greece national figures on its prevalence are lacking.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the burden of known diabetes mellitus through its estimation in the area of responsibility of the Spili Health Centre, based on the health information system that had been established in Primary Health Care in rural Crete.

Method: The diagnosis of diabetes was retrospectively documented by reviewing all medical records (n = 47151) at the Spili Health Centre and its five regional outposts during the period 1/6/1988-1/7/1993.