title: Urban-rural variation in childhood type 1 diabetes incidence in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1980-2004.
abstract: Geographical variation in the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes is well documented. Such patterns are thought to give clues to the potential causes of this complex disease. This study examined the urban-rural differences in childhood type 1 diabetes in the Canterbury region of New Zealand between 1980 and 2004. We found significantly higher incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes in satellite urban communities, which could not be explained by the ethnic composition, neighbourhood deprivation, population density or household overcrowding in these areas. Varying levels of immigration and or/commuting in different urban-rural settings could explain this finding. This study highlights the value of geographical investigations for aetiological hypothesis generation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. laurajm3@gmail.com
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Jinny A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Darlow
authors.forename: Russell S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*