Evidence for an environmental effect in the aetiology of insulin dependent diabetes in a transmigratory population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether children of families moving from an area of low incidence of childhood diabetes to one which is higher show a corresponding rise in disease incidence.


METHODS
Disease incidence study over 12 years.


METHODS
Bradford District Metropolitan Council area.


METHODS
All subjects aged 0-16 years resident within the study area.


METHODS
The incidences of childhood diabetes in Asian and non-Asian families.


RESULTS
The incidence of diabetes in Asian children increased from 3.1/100,000 per year in 1978-81 to 11.7/100,000 per year in 1988-90 (chi 2 for trend = 4.95, df = 1, p = 0.026) whereas that for other children remained constant at 10.5/100,000 per year. Over the entire study period rates were lower in Asian females (4.9/100,000 per year) than in Asian males (8.8/100,000 per year) whereas the reverse was true for other children (males 9.2/100,000 per year; females 12.0/100,000 per year) (test for common odds ratio: chi 2 = 3.81, df = 1, p = 0.052).


CONCLUSIONS
Offspring of this transmigratory population had a rising incidence of childhood diabetes which was approaching that of the indigenous population. The data provide strong evidence for an environmental effect in the aetiology of insulin dependent diabetes.
Bodansky
H J
HJ
Professorial Medical Unit, General Infirmary, Leeds.
Staines
A
A
Stephenson
C
C
Haigh
D
D
Cartwright
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004739:England; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors