[Epidemiologic and clinical features of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care facilities (Sousse, Tunisie)].

As a result of epidemiologic transition, diabetes mellitus became a major public health problem in Tunisia. We tried to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health care units in Sousse (Tunisia). It was a cross sectional study about a stratified sample of 404 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients followed in primary care offices in Sousse in 2003. Average age was 60 + 10.9 years and sex-ratio was 0.5. Hypertension and obesity were found in respectively 71.3% and 37.6%. Diabetic neuropathy was the most frequent degenerative complication (41.1%) followed by diabetic retinopathy (18.3%). Thus, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, followed in primary care units show a high cardiovascular risk with serious and frequent complications. That's why, the national care program of type diabetes mellitus, in primary health care should take in consideration, in its guidelines, the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these patients.