Incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes in children aged <15 yr in Castilla-Leon (Spain).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes in children younger than 15 yr in the Autonomous Community of Castilla-Leon (Spain).


METHODS
All type 1 diabetic cases with onset at <15 yr of age were recorded during 2003-2004. Identified case subjects were ascertained from several sources and the capture-recapture method was used to estimate the completeness of ascertainment. For prevalence, all patients younger than 15 yr with type 1 diabetes at the beginning and at the end of the study were identified.


RESULTS
Over the study period, 130 children aged 0-14 yr were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The average observed incidence of type 1 diabetes in this population was 22.22/100 000/yr (95% CI 14.57-29.81). Age-standardized incidence was 22.01/100 000/yr (95% CI 18.18-25.83). The highest incidence was observed in the 5-9 yr age-group (32.45/100 000/yr, 95% CI 24.31-40.59). The prevalence at the beginning and at the end of the study was 1.01/1000 and 1.18/1000, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Castilla-Leon appears to have one of the highest incidences of childhood type 1 diabetes in Spain, with recent incidence approaching those of some northern European countries.
Paediatric Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
M P
MP
Bahíllo
F
F
Hermoso
C
C
Ochoa
J A
JA
García-Fernández
J
J
Rodrigo
J M
JM
Marugán
S
S
de la Torre
F
F
Manzano
T
T
Lema
J
J
García-Velázquez
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology