title: Diabetes prevalence and metabolic risk profile in an unselected population visiting pharmacies in Switzerland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes represents one of the major health challenges in Switzerland, and early diagnosis and treatment is mandatory to prevent or delay diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. For the purpose of identifying affected individuals, early screening in pharmacies is a valuable option. In this survey, we aimed to determine blood glucose and metabolic control in an unselected population of individuals visiting Swiss pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects responded to a short questionnaire and underwent a single capillary blood glucose test for screening purposes. They were classified as normal, indeterminate, impaired fasting glucose, and diabetes according to predefined blood glucose levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3135 individuals (mean age 56 years) in 18 cantons were screened in November 2010; of these, 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-4.9) had previously been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes was newly diagnosed in 1.9% (95% CI 1.5-2.4), and 11.5% (95% CI 10.4-12.6) had impaired fasting glucose. Subjects with impaired glucose control had an increased body mass index, a frequent family history of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and a low level of physical activity. Prevalence of impaired glucose control was different between the French/Italian-speaking part of Switzerland (new diabetes 4.9%; impaired fasting glucose 12.7%) and the German-speaking part (new diabetes 1.9%; impaired fasting glucose 10.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows a 6.1% prevalence of diabetes, of which about a third (1.9%) was previously undiagnosed, and 11.5% had impaired fasting glucose. Therefore, screening initiatives in pharmacies may be suitable for detecting people with undiagnosed diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Sanofi Aventis, Medical Department, Meyrin, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thoenes
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fimmers
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramlage
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose