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East Africans in Sweden have a high risk for type 1 diabetes

Anders Hjern1, Ulf Söderström, Jan Åman

  • 1Centre for Health Equity Studies, Karolinska Institutet/Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. anders.hjern@chess.su.se

Diabetes Care
|February 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Swedish-born children with East African heritage show a higher risk of type 1 diabetes. This nationwide study highlights potential genetic or environmental factors influencing diabetes prevalence in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence varies globally.
  • Understanding T1D prevalence in migrant populations is crucial for public health.
  • Sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations have diverse genetic backgrounds and environmental exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of T1D in children with SSA origins living in Sweden.
  • To compare T1D risk among children based on their family's region of origin within SSA and their own birthplace.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide register-based study was conducted in Sweden.
  • Data on insulin prescriptions in 2009 were analyzed for children aged 0-18 years.
  • The study compared 35,756 children with SSA origins against 1,666,051 children of native Swedish parents.

Main Results:

  • Swedish-born children with East African origins had a 1.29 times higher odds of receiving insulin medication compared to native Swedish children.
  • Children born in East Africa showed a lower odds ratio (0.50) for insulin medication.
  • Children with origins from other SSA regions had a comparatively low risk for insulin medication.

Conclusions:

  • Swedish-born children with East African heritage face an elevated risk of type 1 diabetes.
  • Birthplace and parental origin are significant factors in T1D risk within the SSA diaspora.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific genetic and environmental determinants of T1D in this population.
Abstract

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