title: The Belgrade childhood diabetes study - comparison of children with type 1 diabetes with their siblings.
abstract: A case-control study was conducted in Belgrade (about 320,000 inhabitants 0-16 years old) during the period 1994-97, comprising 68 diabetic children (cases) and 68 controls chosen from the siblings of the cases. Analysis using multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated the following independent risk factors for Type 1 diabetes: higher birth order, infections during the 6 months preceding the onset of the disease and stressful events. Out of individual stressful and psychological factors, 'other' stressful events (severe accident or hospitalisation or death of a close friend, conflict with a teacher, death of a pet, failure in competition, quarrel between parents, punishment, physical attack, war in republics of former Yugoslavia and near drowning in the pool) and learning problems were independent risk factor for Type 1 diabetes. The results obtained in this study of siblings supports the hypothesis that environmental factors play a role in the development of Type 1 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. sandragru@ptt.yu
authors.forename: Hristina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vlajinac
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipetić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinković
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bjekić
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kocev
authors.forename: Silvija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sajić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001722:Birth Order; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D035781:Siblings; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology