Epidemiological analysis of patients with Type 2 diabetes in France

This paper presents the baseline epidemiological data from 5548 patients wi th type 2 diabetes enrolled in a French observational study that aims to ex amine the safety, tolerability and use of acarbose as prescribed by general practitioners (GPs). Patients were recruited and monitored by a representa tive sample of GPs. Recruitment did not depend on a patient's suitability f or acarbusc treatment. The data revealed that the mean age of the patient p opulation was 63 years, and that more than 50% of patients were over 65 yea rs old. The population was markedly overweight [mean body mass index(BMI): males, 28.3 kg/m(2); females, 29.1 kg/m(2)] and the mean duration of diabet es was 10 (+/- 7.3) years. Over 37% of patients had at least one diabetic c omplication, and the frequency of complications increased with both age and the duration of diabetes. The most frequently reported complications were cardiac (17.8%), vascular (14.5%) and ocular (12%). At recruitment, almost 90% of patients were being treated with oral antidiabetic agents (OADs). Su lphonylureas (74%) and biguanides (50%) were the most commonly prescribed a gents. Acarbose was used to treat 17% of patients and 1% were receiving ins ulin. GPs set glycaemic treatment goals for 44% of patients in the study. F asting glycaemia was the primary goal for 37% of the total study population , and HbA(1c) levels for 21% of patients. Postprandial glycaemia was genera lly given as a secondary or tertiary goal. In conclusion, this study provid es the most up-to-date epidemiological data for patients with type 7 diabet es in France. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.