Local health status and health care use may be negatively influenced by low local socio-economic profile, population
decline and population ageing. To support the need for targeted local health care, we explored spatial patterns of type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM) drug use at local level and determined its association with local demographic, socio-economic and
access to care variables. We assessed spatial variability in these associations. We estimated the five-year prevalence of T2DM
drug use (2005–2009) in persons aged 45 years and older at four-digit postal code level using the University of Groningen
pharmacy database IADB.nl. Statistics Netherlands supplied data on potential predictor variables. We assessed spatial
clustering, correlations and estimated a multiple linear regression model and a geographically weighted regression (GWR)
model. Prevalence of T2DM medicine use ranged from 2.0% to 25.4%. The regression model included the extent of
population ageing, proportion of social welfare/benefits, proportion of low incomes and proportion of pensioners, all
significant positive predictors of local T2DM drug use. The GWR model demonstrated considerable spatial variability in the
association between T2DM drug use and above predictors and was more accurate. The findings demonstrate the added
value of spatial analysis in predicting health care use at local level.