Vaccination News Home Page

http://www.pedresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/52/6/859

Full Text of this Article Reprint (PDF) Version of this Article Submit correspondence regarding this article Similar articles found in: Pediatric Research Online PubMed PubMed Citation Search Medline for articles by: CHARKALUK, M.-L. || LÉVY-MARCHAL, C. Alert me when: new articles cite this article   Download to Citation Manager

Pediatric Research 52:859-862 (2002)
© 2002 International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.
DOI: 10.1203/01.PDR.0000034261.44203.26
 

Incidence Data of Childhood-Onset Type I Diabetes in France During 1988–1997: The Case for a Shift Toward Younger Age at Onset

MARIE-LAURE CHARKALUK, PAUL CZERNICHOW and CLAIRE LÉVY-MARCHAL

INSERM U 457, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France

Correspondence: Claire Lévy-Marchal, INSERM U 457, Robert Debré Hospital, 48 boulevard Sérurier, F75019 Paris, France; e-mail: clairelm@idf.inserm.fr

The objective was to test whether the pattern of increase in incidence of type I diabetes in children under 20 y of age varies with age at onset in France during 1988–1997. The French register of insulin-dependent diabetes was based on the direct identification of new cases by a prospective registration in children under the age of 20 y. Data from the French Social Security were used as a secondary independent source of cases. The rate of ascertainment was 95% over the 10-y period studied. Data were analyzed using linear regression; departure from a linear trend was tested in each age group. A total of 1867 children under 20 y of age at the time of diagnosis were included. The incidence rate of type I diabetes in children rose significantly between 1988 and 1997, from 7.41 per 100,000 per year (95% confidence interval: 6.55–8.27) to 9.58 per 100,000 per year (95% confidence interval: 8.64–10.52) with p = 0.0001. The percentage increase was greates in the 0–4 y age group, with a significant departure from linear trend (p = 0.036), reflecting an acceleration of the increase. Incidence rates rose linearly in 5–9 y (average increase 0.43 per 100,000 per year, p = 0.011) and 10–14 y (average increase 0.40 per 100,000 per year, p = 0.002) age groups, whereas it remained stable in the 15–19 y age group (p = 0.77). The incidence rate was significantly higher in boys than in girls (p = 0.005), but the rise in incidence did not differ between the two genders. The rise in incidence of type I diabetes in France was of the same magnitude as observed in the rest of Europe over 10 y. A specific pattern was observed in children under 5 y of age, contrasting with stable rates over 15 y. These data suggest a shift toward a younger age at onset of type I diabetes in childhood, contributing, at least in part, to the observed increase in incidence of type I diabetes in children.

Copyright © 2002 by the International Pediatric Research Foundation.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.