title: Childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
abstract: The aim of this study was to calculate incidence and hospitalization rates of childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to assess hospitalization trends and associated factors. Data for all patients aged 0-19 years with a diagnosis of T1DM was obtained from the clinical database management system (CDMS) for a 7-year period between April 1, 1995 and March 31, 2002. Incidence was calculated for the 0-7 years age group. A total of 894 T1DM hospital separations among children aged 0-19 years were identified, representing a hospitalization rate of 88.6 per 100,000 person-years (P-Y). The CDMS identified 518 incidences of hospitalization (51.2 per 100,000 P-Y). The overall hospitalization rate increased over the study period (P((2))=0.065). Hospitalization rates for males and females were 77.3 and 100.2 per 100,000 P-Y, respectively (P((2))=0.00011). Of the 894 hospitalization separations, 216 hospitalizations were for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (21.4 per 100,000 P-Y). Female gender and older age were found to be predictive factors of DKA. The incidence rate of T1DM among children aged 0-7 years was 19.0 per 100,000 P-Y. Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest incidence rates of T1DM in the world. Hospitalization rates for DKA and non-DKA increased slightly over the study period. Age and sex patterns suggest that DKA is a particular challenge among adolescent girls. Preventive strategies are needed, particularly in areas of the province with the highest rates.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, St. John's, NL, Canada. rezaa@nlchi.nl.ca
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alaghehbandan
authors.forename: Kayla D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Leigh Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Newhook
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador / Q000453:epidemiology