A RAPID METHOD TO ESTIMATE THE INCIDENCE RATE AND PREVALENCE OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS IN CHILDREN 0-19 YEARS OF AGE

Objective: To trace new cases of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( IDDM) on an ongoing basis and to estimage the incidence rate and preva lence of IDDM in children 0-19 years of age. Research design and metho ds: The estimation of the prevalence and incidence rate of IDDM was ba sed on, respectively, the prevalence and the rate of new users of insu lin. The data were obtained from pharmacy, patient-based, drug dispens ing histories in a well-defined population encompassing 257,113 indivi duals in the Netherlands. Results: The IDDM incidence rate was estimat ed at 11.5 (Cl95 6.6-17.8) per 100,000 person years in 1989-1990 in ch ildren 0-19 years of age. The prevalence was estimated at 11.0 (Cl95 8 .6-13.4) per 10,000 children 0-19 years of age. Discussion: The incide nce rate is comparable to that found in a large, national survey among all paediatricians and internists in the Netherlands. The method offe rs ongoing monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of IDDM in child ren, 0-19 years of age, against low costs. The method is suitable for rapid and cost-efficient recruitment of cohorts of incident IDDM patie nts, which fosters research to identify and quantify the attribution o f different types of aetiologic and prognostic factors of IDDM.