Incidence of juvenile type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in France

The incidence rate of juvenile Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in France was reported as the lowest in Europe 13 years ago, but during the recent years increasing rates have been observed in different European countries. A prospective programme has been designed to study the incidence rate of Type 1 diabetes in patients up to 20 years of age in four regions located in the north and south of France (population less than 20 years = 2.31 million inhabitants; 15% of the French population). All cases were independently identified by four specially trained research assistants through hospital admission files, paediatricians, diabetologists and general practitioners. A specific questionnaire was filled out for each newly diagnosed case. Degree of ascertainment was 96% with the data from Sécurité Sociale, the French National Health Insurance. In 1988, 166 cases of juvenile Type 1 diabetes were identified. The incidence rate was 7.17 cases per 10(5) children (95% confidence interval = 6.1-8.2/10(5). The values were not statistically different among the four regions. Age specific incidence rates were as follows: 0-4 years = 3.8; 5-9 years = 8.0; 10-14 years = 9.7 and 15-19 years = 7.3/10(5). Sex ratio was 1.2 (male/female). These data indicate that incidence of juvenile Type 1 diabetes in France was higher in 1988 than previously reported but remains lower than in Northern Europe. This is consistent with the concept of a north to south gradient of the disease.