Dartigues J F, Helmer C, Dubois B, Duyckaerts C, Laurent B, Pasquier F, Touchon J
Unité INSERM 330, Université de Bordeaux II, Bordeaux.
Rev Neurol (Paris). 2002 Mar;158(3):311-5.
Alzheimer's Disease is a major Public Health problem for many reasons. First, it is a frequent disease since, in France, the prevalence was estimated at about 400.000 cases, and the annual incidence at 100.000 cases. The frequency of the disease increases, in particular due to the ageing of the population. This disease has major consequences on the life of the patient and his/her caretaker. The cost of the disease is important, estimated at about 50 milliards of French francs. Pharmaceutical treatment and other interventions are possible in particular to delay the nursing home placement. On the other hand, this disease is often ignored, under-diagnosed, underestimated and exposed to inequality in resorting to care. In summary, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has all the criteria required for a major public health problem. In spite of this observation, AD is not yet considered as a priority for health authorities, although attitudes are changing.
阿尔茨海默病是一个重大的公共卫生问题，原因如下。首先，它是一种常见疾病，在法国，患病率估计约为40万例，年发病率为10万例。该疾病的发病率尤其因人口老龄化而上升。这种疾病对患者及其照料者的生活有重大影响。疾病成本高昂，估计约为500亿法国法郎。药物治疗和其他干预措施尤其有可能延缓入住养老院的时间。另一方面，这种疾病常常被忽视、诊断不足、被低估，并且在获得护理方面存在不平等现象。总之，阿尔茨海默病（AD）具备成为重大公共卫生问题所需的所有标准。尽管有此情况，但AD尚未被卫生当局视为优先事项，不过态度正在发生变化。
