ABSTRACT

With the objective of evaluating the impact of the health system actions, it was carried out an epidemiologic study, with Diabetes mellitus adult bearers, residents in the area covered by the services of a basic unit of the health system, in the urban area of Pelotas, RS. It was used a structured questionnaire, addressing characteristics of the disease and its treatment. Weight, height, blood pressure, and capillary glucose level were also surveyed. Interviews were conducted with 89 people, estimating a prevalence of the disease of 5.5% (CI 95% 4.4 – 6.6). Using both criteria, from the Latin American Diabetes Association (ALAD) and from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, to evaluate the result characteristics in the patients, it was observed that only 5 (5.6%) patients were compensated complying with ALAD criteria and 13 (14.6%) abiding by the Ministry of Health criteria. Results confirm how important the disease is, despite its low prevalence in the studied community sample. As the disease does not manifest symptoms, many patients do not seek care before appearing its complications and, in that way, it becomes a major public health problem.

Key words: Diabetes Mellitus, Primary Health Care, Outcome and Process Assessment, Program Evaluation.