Abstract.
Aims/hypothesis:
We aimed to study the incidence of Type I diabetes in 4 countries, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland, during 1983–1998, focusing on the two separate periods of 1983–1990 and 1991–1998.
Methods:
Population-based incidence data from nationwide diabetes registries were used. Crude and age-standardized incidence rates using the proportions of 39 %, 32 % and 29 % for 5-year age groups (0–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years) were calculated. Yearly incidence was evaluated and the means between the two periods compared.
Results:
Between 1983–1990 and 1991–1998 there was a statistically significant incidence increase in all 4 countries of Estonia, Lativia, Lithuania and Finland (relative risk 1.15, 95 %-Confidence interval 1.10–1.19) and as well as in the 3 Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (relative risk 1.13, 95 %. Confidence interval 1.04–1.22). The crude incidence increased in Estonia from 10.1 (95 %-Confidence interval 8.9–11.4) to 12.3 (11.0–13.8), in Latvia from 6.6 (5.8–7.3) to 7.4 (6.6–8.2) and in Lithuania from 6.8 (6.2–7.5) to 7.8 (7.1–8.5). In Finland the incidence rose from 34.6 (33.3–36.0) in 1983–1990 to 40.8 (39.4–42.2) in 1991–1998. In children under 5 years of a age a statistically important increase was seen in Estonia and Finland. The highest incidence for a single year was recorded for all participating countries in the late 1990 s. The highest annual incidence rate of childhood onset Type I diabetes in the world ever known was recorded in Finland in 1998 with 48.5 cases per 100 000 person-years.
Conclusion/hypothesis:
The incidence of Type I diabetes has increased since 1983 in the three Baltic states as well as in Finland. Long-term monitoring is needed for a better detection in changes in incidence. [Diabetologia (2001) 44 [Suppl 3]: B 17–B 20]
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Podar, T., Solntsev, A., Karvonen, M. et al. Increasing incidence of childhood-onset Type I diabetes in 3 Baltic countries and Finland 1983–1998. Diabetologia 44 (Suppl 3), B17–B20 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00002947
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00002947