Social disparities in musculoskeletal disorders and associated mental malaise: findings from a population-based survey in France.

Aims: Various types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have comorbid mental disorders, which may in turn have a negative influence on disease course and role impairment, but the contribution of social factors to this type of comorbidity is a much under-researched area. This study investigates whether there is a socially patterned association of MSDs with different dimensions of mental malaise.

Methods: The sample included 3,368 economically active participants aged 18-64 years, randomly selected from the Lorraine region in north-eastern France.

Incidence of juvenile type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in France.

The incidence rate of juvenile Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in France was reported as the lowest in Europe 13 years ago, but during the recent years increasing rates have been observed in different European countries. A prospective programme has been designed to study the incidence rate of Type 1 diabetes in patients up to 20 years of age in four regions located in the north and south of France (population less than 20 years = 2.31 million inhabitants; 15% of the French population).