[Self-reported diabetes mellitus in the city of São Paulo: prevalence and inequality]

This report analyzes characteristics of self-reported diabetes mellitus in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The data were obtained from the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus, a household survey performed in 1986-88. The São Paulo sample consisted of 2,007 individuals aged 30-69 years, of both sexes, selected from three areas with distinct socio-economic levels. The estimated prevalence using a 75g glucose load and measurement of two-hour capillary glycemia was 9.7%. Prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 4.7% and increased with age and presence of family history of diabetes. There was a significant difference between sexes (3.5% in men and 5.7% in women), with higher rates of self-reported diabetes at higher economic levels among men and higher rates at lower socio-economic levels among women.