Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in New Zealanders aged 0-24 years.
OBJECTIVE
The incidence and prevalence of Type 1 diabetes is increasing internationally. There is, however, no current estimate of the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in young New Zealanders. We therefore aimed to estimate prevalence in 0 to 24 year olds.


METHODS
The point prevalence of Type 1 diabetes was determined in a geographically defined area, namely the Canterbury District Health Board catchment area, by comparing data from multiple clinical and research sources. The New Zealand prevalence, stratified by age and ethnicity, was then estimated using 2001 population census data.


RESULTS
There were 353 people with diabetes aged 24 years and less, residing within the catchment area at the time of study. Of these 353 people, 330 had Type 1 diabetes, giving a prevalence of 227 per 100,000 children and young adults. The estimated number of New Zealanders with Type 1 diabetes in this defined age group, adjusted for ethnicity, was 2,540. An estimated 2,158 were of European descent.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes is lower in non European New Zealanders compared to European New Zealanders, the changing demographics of children and youth in New Zealand means that there are increasing numbers of Maori, Asian, and Pacific peoples with Type 1 diabetes.
Wu
Denise
D
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch.
Kendall
Deborah
D
Lunt
Helen
H
Willis
Jinny
J
Darlow
Brian
B
Frampton
Christopher
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data