De incidentie van diabetes mellitus bij 0-19-jarigen in Nederland (1988-1990)

To determine if the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the age group of 0-19 years in the Netherlands in the period 1988-1990 had changed in comparison with the period 10 years before.

Design

Retrospective.

Setting

The Netherlands.

Method

In 1991 a questionnaire was sent to all paediatricians and internists to determine the incidence of IDDM. Concerning all new cases of IDDM in 1988-1990, excluding gestational diabetes and transient neonatal diabetes, a limited number of questions were asked. To check the completeness of the data, a questionnaire was sent to the patients or their parents via the Dutch Diabetics Association.

Results

In the age group of 0-19 years the incidence (per 10⁵ year) was 13.2 (95 confidence interval: 12.6-13.8), among those 0-14 years old it was 12.4 (12.0-12.8). In 1978-1980 the incidence figures were 11.0 (10.3-11.7) and 11.1 (10.5-11.7), respectively. The only age group in which the incidence had not increased was 0-4 years. In all age categories, except 5-9 years, the incidence among boys was higher than that among girls.

Conclusion

Taking the age-standardised incidence for 1988-1990 into account, the incidence of IDDM had increased by 17 in the age group of 0-14 years and by 23 in that of 0-19 years in comparison with 1978-1980. The rapidity of increase supports the hypothesis that environmental factors are important in the development of diabetes mellitus among children.