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Perinatal risk factors for early childhood onset type 1 diabetes in Austria - a population-based study (1989-2005)
Thomas Waldhoer1, Birgit Rami, Edith Schober
1Department of Epidemiology, Center of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. thomas.waldhoer@meduniwien.ac.at
Insights
The incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in young Austrian children is rising. Key risk factors include birth year, nationality, and parity, but not birth weight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence is rapidly increasing in children under 5 years old in Austria.
- Investigating risk factors for T1DM in this demographic is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors associated with the rising incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children under 5 years of age in Austria.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the T1DM children incidence registry (n=444) for children born between 1989-2005.
- Linked registry data with birth certificates (n=1,407,829) for comprehensive analysis.
Main Results:
- Boys showed a 25% higher risk of T1DM than girls.
- Risk increased significantly over time, with a 2.86-fold increase from 1989-1991 to 2001-2005.
- Native-born children had double the risk compared to non-native children; parity and marital status were also significant factors.
Conclusions:
- No association found between birth weight and T1DM in this cohort.
- Identified year of birth, nationality, and parity as significant factors in T1DM development in young children.
- Gestational age was also noted as a factor in the observed T1DM increase.
Background:
To investigate the rapid increase in incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children <5 yr in Austria.
Methods:
Data of children born between 1989 and 2005 (n = 444) from the T1DM children incidence registry were linked with birth certificates (n = 1 407 829).
Results:
Age of mother, level of education, birth weight, birth length, body mass index, and APGAR score at 10 min were not significant. Boys have about 25% higher risk than girls [hazard ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.91]. The risk of developing diabetes increases over time significantly (1989-1991 vs. 2001-2005, hazard ratio = 2.86, 95% CI: 2.07-3.94). The linear effect of parity is borderline significant (p = 0.045), with lower risks for second and later born siblings. Marital status is significant [hazard ratio = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.90)]. Native-born children exhibit twice as high risk as non-native children (hazard ratio = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37-0.71). Birth weight shows a positive but not significant effect on risk of T1DM.
Conclusions:
In this very young and rapidly increasing cohort of diabetic children <5 yr of age, no association with birth weight but with year of birth, gestational age, nationality and parity could be observed.
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