Diabetes Care, Vol 19, Issue 1 70-73, Copyright © 1996 by American Diabetes Association
A 5-year (1989-1993) prospective study of the incidence of IDDM in Rome and the Lazio region in the age-group 0-14 years
L Sebastiani, N Visalli, E Adorisio, MA Suppa, R Buzzetti, AL De Cicco, C Giovannini, MD Comerci, M Negri and P Pozzilli
Istituto d'Igiene, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
OBJECTIVE: To provide data on the incidence of IDDM in Rome and the Lazio
region evaluated prospectively from 1989 to 1993 for a total of > 5
million subjects younger than 15 years. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: All
patients with newly discovered IDDM diagnosed between 1 January 1989 and 31
December 1993 among residents in Rome and its region were recorded. Primary
ascertainment was based in diabetes clinics and specialized hospitals in
the region, whereas the secondary independent source was taken from the
archives of the region where patients are registered to obtain exemption
from paying for medications. RESULTS: We identified 330 new patients with a
degree of ascertainment of 85%. Overall the incidence rate of the disease
was 7.9 per 100,000 per year (95% CI 7.1-8.8). The incidence was higher in
the 5- to 9-year-old age-group (10.4 per 100,000) and in winter (36.2%).
The cumulative risk for the disease is on the order of 1.18 per 1,000
subjects < 15 years of age. No significant differences in incidence were
observed between boys and girls. There were 14 instances of coma at
diagnosis (4.3%), but hyperglycemia without ketonuria was diagnosed in 35%
of patients, suggesting an early diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Compared with the
other continental Italian regions for which data are available for a single
year, the IDDM incidence rate in Rome is similar. We conclude that the IDDM
incidence rate in Rome and its region is comparable to that in other
Southern European countries and remained stable over the 5-year observation
period.