A twelve year study of the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Study of the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
Analysis included all children eligible for care in our hospital who had type 1 diabetes diagnosed before their 15th birthday between 1986 and 1997.


RESULTS
A total of 46 children (27 girls and 19 boys) were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 10.3 yr. The overall age-adjusted incidence rate was 12.3 x 10(5)/yr; it was 9.9 x 10(5)/yr for males and 14.8 x 10(5)/yr for females. The number of patients increased significantly (relative risk of 46) over the study period (p=0.01), more significantly in females (p=0.007) and in the 10-14 year age group (p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of type 1 diabetes increased markedly over the past 12 years, mainly in females and children over 10 years of age. The data confirm the need to develop a national registry and the need for further epidemiological research.
Kulaylat
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Saudi Aramco-Al Hasa Health Center, Saudi Aramco Medical Services, Organization, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Narchi
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H
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology