title: Estimation of the prevalence of orally treated diabetes in France using a pharmacoepidemiologic approach: comparison between 1981 and 1992.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-insulin-dependent diabetes may become a public health problem in the next decade, given the increasing life expectancy of populations and because the baby-boom generation will reach the age at risk. Moreover a modification of the diagnostic criteria may increase the number of diabetic patients. We studied the evolution of diabetes prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-specific household survey, performed every 10 years was used. Patients who bought an oral antidiabetic drug during these studies were classified as diabetics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1980-81 and 1991-92 the crude diabetes prevalences were not significantly different even if there was a trend to increase (1.27% and 1.41%, respectively). When the 1980-81 prevalence was standardized to the age distribution of the 1991-92 sample, the trend disappeared (prevalence 1980-81:1.35%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no increase in an individual's risk of diabetes. However the crude prevalence tended to increase because of the changing age structure of the population. On-going studies are needed to follow the prevalence of diabetes during the next decade.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unit 258, Université Paris-Sud, 16 avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France. orhan@vjf.inserm.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vauzelle-Kervroëdan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forhan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guillemot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sermet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maison
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balkau
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eschwège