Incidence of Type I (Insulin Dependent) Diabetes Mellitus among Children in Western Bulgaria (1989-1994)
Issue: 2/1998
Author: R. Savova1, K. Kalinov2, S. Chavrakova3, K. Koprivarova1, G. Popova1, S. Goranova4
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to dermine the incidence of type I (insulin dependent) dia¬betes mellitus among children aged 0-14 years in Western Bulgaria. The study included the region of Western Bulgaria with total population of 2 807 000. Two independent sources of data were used: 1. Notification of new cases in the Department of Diabetes, University Children's Hospital in Sofia; 2. Diabetes Outpatient Centre in Sofia, local hospitals, outpatient clinics and two sanatoria, providing patients with free of charge insulin. The completeness of ascertain¬ment was done by capture-recapture method. In the period 1989-1994 303 newly diagnosed children with IDDM were registered with total ascertainment rate 97 = 34%. Mean annual age/sex specific incidence rate was 9.82/100 000/year (95% CI 8.72; 10.94). No significant temporal variation within years was observed (c5 = 4.2 p > 0.1). A slight, but not significant predominance of the incidence rate among females existed (10.13/100 000/year for females vs 9.54/100 000/year for males, p = 0.255). Significantly higher incidence of IDDM was found in pubertal age group (10-14 years) com¬pared to younger age groups (0-4 and 5-9 years) (p < 0.001). Incidence rate ranged within dif¬ferent georgraphical districts from 6.31 to 12.03/100 000/year, being higher in Sofia town (p < 0.1). Significantly higher incidence rate was found among urban residents compared to these from rural areas (p < 0.004). We con¬cluded that the mean annual age/sex incidence rate of IDDM among children aged 0-14 years or under in Western Bulgaria is comparable to those, reported from other Central European countries. Significant influence of pubertal age and urbanisation for increasing of incidence of IDDM was established.
Keywords: Type I (insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus, children, incidence rate.
