Incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in age groups over 30 years in Denmark.
The incidence of IDDM in the age group over 30 years was estimated in a historical prospective study, using clinical and biochemical measurements at onset as criteria for classification. The study population, nearly one million, represents 20% of the Danish population. The degree of ascertainment was > 99%. One thousand two hundred and forty patients were treated with insulin during the study period (1973-77). Based on the clinical and biochemical variables, the patients were classified into three groups: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) accounted for 16.2%, insulin-treated diabetes mellitus for 54.1% and short-term treated diabetes mellitus for 29.6% of the total insulin-treated group. The incidence of IDDM in the age group over 30 years at onset was 8.2 100,000(-1) year-1. The cumulative incidence rate (0-90 years) was 1.5-1.6 per cent. The present study indicates that IDDM may develop at any age. Thus the life-time risk of developing IDDM is higher than hitherto expected.
Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
A G
AG
Mølbak
B
B
Christau
B
B
Marner
K
K
Borch-Johnsen
J
J
Nerup
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007328:Insulin; C024211:islet cell antibody