[Prevalence of diabetes in france and drug use: study based on the French pharmacovigilance database].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the use of the French Pharmacovigilance Database to estimate characteristics of drug utilization in specific diseases.


METHODS
We identified diabetic patients from the French Pharmacovigilance Database between 2002 and 2005. In this population, we studied demographic characteristics, and the patterns of drug use, particularly hypoglycemiant drug use and other drug exposure. In order to validate this approach, we compared our data to a population of patients with diabetes identified from the French Health Insurance System claims database in one French area.


RESULTS
The estimation of prevalence of diabetes was very close in the sources: 2.7% in the French Pharmacovigilance Database and 3.2% in the French Health Insurance System claims database. We found similar results as well for demographic characteristics as for hypoglycemiant drug use and other drug exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the French Pharmacovigilance Database may be used to investigate drug utilization patterns.
Berthet
Stéphanie
S
Unité de Pharmacoépidémiologie, EA 3696, Université Paul Sabatier, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France.
Grolleau
Sabrina
S
Brefel-Courbon
Christine
C
Montastruc
Jean-Louis
JL
Lapeyre-Mestre
Maryse
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents