Epidemiology of Type I diabetes mellitus in Switzerland: steep rise in incidence in under 5 year old children in the past decade (original) (raw)

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis. In this nationwide prospective study we wanted to verify the trend of increasing diabetes incidence data from our earlier retrospective analysis of the military registry of Swiss men. Subjects and methods. The data collection of newly diagnosed children in Switzerland at an age younger than 15 years started in 1991. The countrywide survey used a small questionnaire which was sent back to the study centre. The questionnaire was anonymous and contained: hospital of diagnosis, initials, sex, birth date, date of diagnosis, residence, country of citizenship, and responsible physician. General data on the population were taken from publications of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Results. A total of 941 children below the age of 15 years with newly diagnosed Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus were collected (434 girls, 507 boys). The incidence in children aged 0 to 14 years rose significantly between 1991 and 1999 with a yearly average increase of 5.1 %. In the age group 0 to 4 years a more than four-fold increase in incidence from 2.4/100 000 per year to 10.5/100 000 per year (p = 0.0002) was recorded, whereas the age-specific incidence in the 5 to 9-year-old and 10 to 14-year-old children did not change during the data collection period. The incidence was significantly higher in boys than in girls, whereas no difference was found between rural and urban populations. Conclusion/interpretation. The incidence of Type I diabetes is rising in children living in Switzerland but only the youngest age group of under 5 years of age is affected showing a large annual average increase of 23.8 %. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 286–289]

Article PDF

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland, , , , , , CH
   E. J. Schoenle, M. Lang-Muritano, T. Torresani, A. Biason-Lauber & L. Molinari
2. Children's Hospital Luzern, Switzerland, , , , , , CH
   S. Gschwend
3. Children's Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland, , , , , , CH
   J. Laimbacher
4. University Children's Hospital, Berne, Switzerland, , , , , , CH
   P. E. Mullis

Authors

1. E. J. Schoenle
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
2. M. Lang-Muritano
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
3. S. Gschwend
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
4. J. Laimbacher
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
5. P. E. Mullis
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
6. T. Torresani
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
7. A. Biason-Lauber
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
8. L. Molinari
   You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received: 7 September 2000 and in revised form: 25 October 2000

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schoenle, E., Lang-Muritano, M., Gschwend, S. et al. Epidemiology of Type I diabetes mellitus in Switzerland: steep rise in incidence in under 5 year old children in the past decade.Diabetologia 44, 286–289 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051615

Download citation

• Issue Date: March 2001
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051615