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Steep increase of incidence of childhood diabetes since 1999 in Austria. Time trend analysis 1979–2005. A nationwide study

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Abstract

In a prospective population-based incidence study all newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients 0–<15 years of age were registered by the Austrian Diabetes Incidence Study Group. The nationwide incidence of type 1 diabetes between 2000–2005 was compared with the previously published incidence rates. Long-term trends as well as seasonal trends were estimated by Poisson regression models. A total of 3,599 incident cases (1,908 boys; 1,691 girls) were identified. Case ascertainment was >92%. The overall incidence rate doubled from 7.3 (95% CI; 6.8–7.9)/100,000 in the period 1979–84 to 14.6 (95% CI, 13.7–15.4)/100,000 in the time period 2000–2005. A significant increase during the observation period of 26 years could be demonstrated in all age groups and both sexes (p<0.01), with the steepest increment during the last 5 years. Until 1994 the incidence rate in children 0–<5 years was rather stable, but afterwards increased dramatically with 9.2% (95% CI, 5.2–13.4) annually. Despite this steep increase in time trend, we did not observe a seasonal variation in this age group (0–<5) in contrast to significant seasonal variations in the groups 5–<10 and 10–<15 years of age. Over the past 26 years incidence of type 1 diabetes in childhood increased clearly in Austria. The steepest rise was observed in the last 5 years and in the younger age groups.

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Acknowledgements

Members of the Austrian Diabetes Incidence Study Group:

Arocker W., Bauer M., Baumgartner F., Bali C., Borkenstein M., Bittmann B., Dorninger L., Fussenegger J., Jäger A., Fink M., Fröhlich-Reiterer E., Guttenberger KH, Gruber A., Häckel F., Heijbl L., Höller H., Hofer S., Holzleitner Ch., Jahn Ch., Judtmaier S., Jürgenssen OA, Kersak J., Kovacs U., Kitzler P., Kovacic R., Kurnik P., Kuthan G., Lindauer E., Meszaros F., Mühleder J., Müller G., Müllner M., Paier R., Polland V.,Prchla C., Püschel B., Rittinger O., Salzer H., Schermann P., Schlager J., Schmitt K. Schneider U., Scholtze M., Schorn Ch., Sickel E., Walser I, Wakolbinger G., Zieglauer H.

This study has in part been supported by Novo Nordisk Austria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Edith Schober & Birgit Rami

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Center of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Thomas Waldhoer

  3. University Children’s Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Edith Schober

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  1. Edith Schober
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  2. Birgit Rami
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Austrian Diabetes Incidence Study Group

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Correspondence to Edith Schober.

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Schober, E., Rami, B., Waldhoer, T. et al. Steep increase of incidence of childhood diabetes since 1999 in Austria. Time trend analysis 1979–2005. A nationwide study. Eur J Pediatr 167, 293–297 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-007-0480-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-007-0480-5

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