A 5-YEAR STUDY OF THE INCIDENCE OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS IN YOUNG TUNISIANS (PRELIMINARY-RESULTS)

Three Tunisian districts were selected to estimate the incidence of in sulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) : Deja, Monastir and Gafsa. A population-based registry for new cases of IDDM was established in 19 90 in these three areas according to WHO DIAMOND project methodology. A local extension of the protocol consisted in the inclusion of childr en up to 19 years of age. Children with a diagnosis of IDDM discharged from general hospitals and private clinics in these areas were record ed in the corresponding registry. A secondary source of case ascertain ment was provided by regional school health centers. The findings of t he five-year study showed that 156 cases of IDDM were recorded among c hildren aged 0 to 19 years in the three regions. The degree of ascerta inment was estimated at 96 %. The global age-adjusted incidence rates were 6.76.100,000(-1) year(-1) and 6.95.100,000(-1).year(-1) in the 0 to 14- and 0 to 19-year age-groups respectively. Age-adjusted incidenc e rates were lower in Monastir than in Deja and Gafsa, respectively 4. 69, 8.13 and 8.33.100,000(-1).year(-1) for subjects aged 0 to 19 years . Incidence rates showed no significant difference by gender but were lower in the 0 to 4- and higher in the 10 to 14-year age groups. No ti me trend was detected. Sixty-two percent of all cases were diagnosed i n the cold season. The incidence rate of IDDM in Tunisia is thus close to that observed in most Mediterranean countries.