The growing incidence of type 1 diabetes in children: the 17-year French experience in Aquitaine

Abstract

Background: While the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children has increased in various parts of the world, in France, no actual figures have been available since 1997.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the pattern of increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children aged less than 15 years varies with age at onset in Aquitaine (France) over a 17-year period.

Patients and methods: From 1988 to 1997, all newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes were confirmed by registration into the French Registry of Incidence of Diabetes. Subsequently, all cases registered from 1998 to 2004 were collected within paediatric centres in Aquitaine as part of their hospital-based prospective records.

Results: In the overall population, the age- and gender-adjusted incidence rate increased from 8.86 per 100,000 per year (95% CI: 6.27-11.45) in 1988 to 13.47 per 100,000 per year (95% CI: 10.29-16.65) in 2004, indicating an annual increase in incidence of 3.34% (95% CI: 3.33-3.34). Median age at diabetes onset for cases in the first registration period (1988-1996) was significantly higher than that in the second registration period (1997-2004): 10.04 years (range: 6.64-12.53) versus 8.83 years (range: 5.48-11.73), respectively (P=0.01). The annual increase in incidence rate was highest in the youngest children and varied significantly with age (0-4 years: 7.59%; 5-9 years: 4.06%; 10-14 years: 1.28%).

Conclusion: These results indicate a doubling of the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children every 30 years in Aquitaine, with an even steeper increase among younger children, thus underscoring the need for appropriate adaptation of the system of healthcare provision.