Eleven-year trends in socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence and incidence of pharmacologically treated type 2 diabetes in France, 2010–2020

Aim

This study aimed to describe the association between socioeconomic inequalities and the prevalence and incidence of pharmacologically-treated type 2 diabetes in European France over the 2010–2020 period.

Methods

Diabetes cases were identified using a validated algorithm from the French National Health Data System. Analysis was restricted to adults aged 45 years and older to focus on type 2 diabetes. Socioeconomic inequalities were measured for all years in European France using the French deprivation index (FDep, 2015 version), which is an area-based deprivation indicator using population-weighted quintiles (Q1 corresponds to the least deprived municipalities). The relative risks of diabetes prevalence and incidence associated with FDep quintiles (Q1 as the reference) were estimated by sex using a log-linear Poisson model adjusted for year, age and French department. The study population was the French health consumers aged 45 years and over (from 24,228,526 in 2010 to 29,772,928 in 2020).

Results

A positive gradient was observed in the relative risks of type 2 diabetes prevalence and incidence by FDep quintiles over the study period. The strength of the estimated associations increased over the last decade for prevalence among men and women and for incidence among men in the two most deprived quintiles.

Conclusion

Thus, type 2 diabetes prevention should include a proportionate universalism approach, proposing actions of greater intensity in the most deprived areas.