[Regional prevalence of diabetes treated with oral hypoglycemic agents]

The regional prevalence of diabetes, in France, has been studied using data from a nationwide household survey conducted by INSEE and CREDOC, two national demographic statistics institutes, in a representative sample of 7,323 households (21,007 subjects). Each subject reported, on a form, all the drugs bought during the study period. Subjects reporting, at least once, an antidiabetic oral drug were classified as diabetic. Two hundred and sixty six subjects reported having bought one or more oral antidiabetic drugs, leading to an overall prevalence rate of 1.27%. Prevalence rates were calculated by region (range: 0.86% Pays de Loire--2.77% Franche-Comté) and by large administrative areas (ZEAT) (range: 0.90% Nord-Pas-de-Calais--1.92% Est). In both cases, a North-west, South-east gradient appeared, with the lowest rates in the North and West of France. This trend was maintained after standardization according to the age distribution in the regions studied. The rates are similar to other data in the literature, in particular those derived from national drug sales data, but there is no explanation for this inter regional variability, which merits specific surveys.