Incidence of insulin dependent diabetes in England: a study in the Oxford region, 1985-6
Bingley, P.J.; Gale, E.A.
Bmj 298(6673): 558-560
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0959-8138 PMID: 2495112 Document Number: 344888
Objective-To determine the incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus up to the age of 21 in a geographically defined population in England with independent validation of completeness of case ascertainment. Design-Prospective registration of newly diagnosed cases supplemented by centralised hospital discharge records and death certificates. Validation of ascertainment from general practitioners. Setting-Oxford Regional Health Authority area (population 2.cntdot.4 millions). Patients-All patients with insulin dependent diabetes diagnosed below age 21 during 1985-6 and resident in the region at the time of diagnosis. Interventions-None. End point-Validation of a method of case ascertainment for assessing temporal variation in incidence of insulin dependent diabetes. Measurements and main results- The overall yearly incidence of newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in people under 21 was 15 .cntdot. 6 cases/100 000 (95% confidence interval 13 .cntdot. 6 to 17 .cntdot. 6). Among males the incidence was 16.8 cases (14 .cntdot. 0 to 19 .cntdot. 7)/100 00 and among females 14 .cntdot. 3 cases (11 .cntdot. 6 to 17 .cntdot. 1)/100 000. The highest incidence, in the 10-14 year age group, was 26 .cntdot. 4 (20 .cntdot. 9 to 31 .cntdot. 8) new cases/100 000 population yearly. Case ascertainment was greater than 95%. Conclusions-The incidence of insulin dependent diabetes in England is considerably higher than reported from large scale studies. It is consistent with described patterns of geographical variation. The figures provide a baseline for assessing temporal change.