The large increase in incidence of Type I diabetes mellitus in Poland (original) (raw)

Abstract.

Aims/hypothesis:

A rising incidence of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in different countries in Europe during the last decade has been recently reported. However, in the early 1990s, Poland was reported to have a stable low incidence of this disease. This study aimed to estimate the annual incidence of Type I diabetes in a north-eastern region of Poland (Białystok region) and investigate if it is associated with age, sex, urban rural differences and the season of disease onset.

Methods:

A register of patients with Type I diabetes using two independent sets of data sources was established in 1994 as part of the EURODIAB TIGER programme. The primary data sources were paediatric and internal medicine divisions of the hospitals in the Białystok province and the secondary were outpatient diabetic clinics in the region. The degree of ascertainment was 98.5 % for the combinated data sources.

Results:

We found a significant rising trend in the incidence of Type I diabetes in children under 15 years of age (in 1998 the incidence was approximately twice as high as in 1994). Increasing incidence rates were observed in the rural areas but not in urban populations. Seasonal variation in the incidence was also found, with a peak in winter and nadir in summer. Conclusions/interpretation. These results show that the north-eastern region of Poland is an area with a moderate rather than a low risk of Type I diabetes. Our observations confirm the important role of environmental and socio-economic factors or both in the pathogenesis of Type I diabetes. [Diabetologia (2001) 44 [Suppl 3]: B 48–B 50]

Article PDF

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Medical Academy Białystok, Białystok, Poland, , , , , , PL
    A. Krętowski, I. Kowalska & I. Kinalska
  2. Department of Paediatrics, Medical Academy Białystok, Białystok, Poland, , , , , , PL
    J. Peczyñska & M. Urban
  3. Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Åarhus, Åarhus, Denmark, , , , , , DK
    A. Green

Authors

  1. A. Krętowski
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. I. Kowalska
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. J. Peczyñska
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. M. Urban
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  5. A. Green
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  6. I. Kinalska
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Krętowski, A., Kowalska, I., Peczyñska, J. et al. The large increase in incidence of Type I diabetes mellitus in Poland.Diabetologia 44 (Suppl 3), B48–B50 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00002954

Download citation