[Incidence of IDDM in children (age 0-14 yrs) in Málaga 1982-1988]

Abstract

The annual incidence of diabetes mellitus in children 0 to 14 years of age in the province of Malaga (Spain) between 1982 and 1988 was 11.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range = 9.7-13.1). There was an inverse relationship with seasonal temperature; the onset of the disease occurred more frequently during the colder months. The highest incidence was found among children between 5 and 9 years of age, with 13.88 cases per 100,000. The male/female ratio was 1.3 in children between 0 and 5 years and in children between 5 and 9 years of age and 0.97 in children between 10-14 years. The onset of the disease as ketoacidosis remained constant at 25% and was independent of age. When compared with other European epidemiological studies, we found a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus than that in Central European or Mediterranean Countries.