INCIDENCE OF IDDM IN THE 0-29 YRS AGE-GROUP IN UMBRIA, ITALY

Epidemiological studies may greatly benefit our understanding of the i nteractions between environment and genetic factors related to the pat hogenesis of IDDM. Aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of I DDM in the 0-29 yrs age-group in Umbria, a region of Central Italy, du ring the period 1993-1995. A regional registry was established to coll ect blood samples and clinical data on incident cases of IDDM from 17 hospitals or departments of the Umbria region (primary data source), A secondary and independent data source used the computerised filing sy stem for insulin prescriptions of the Umbria region, During the years 1993-1995, the incidence of IDDM in the 0-29 yrs age-group in Umbria r esulted 9.2/100,000/yr. Age-standardised incidence rate in the 0-14 yr s age-group was 9.0/100,000/yr, and in the 15-29 yrs age-group 9.2/100 ,000/yr. Incidence of IDDM in 0-4yr-old children was 10.2/100,000/yr i n 1993-1995 and 11.7/100,000/yr during the period 1990-1995. In the 15 -29 yrs age-group, age-standardised incidence rate of IDDM was signifi cantly higher in males (12.7/100,000/yr) than in females (5.2/100,000/ yr) (p=0,009), A low incidence of IDDM was observed during the summer months [July to September n=10/76 (13%) cases] as compared to the othe r seasons [n=21/76 (28%) to 23/76 (30%) cases], The results of our stu dy show that I) age-standardised incidence of IDDM in Umbria was simil ar to that observed in other regions of mainland Italy, 2) the inciden ce of IDDM in the 0-4 yrs age-group, as observed during the period 199 0-1995, was significantly higher in Umbria than in neighbouring region s, as observed during 1989-1993, and 3) a significantly higher inciden ce of IDDM was observed among males than among females in the 15-29 yr s age-group. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.