INCIDENCE OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-M ELLITUS IN 19-YEAR-OLD SWISS MEN

There is current debate whether prevalence of insulin-dependent diabet es mellitus is increasing in western countries. In Switzerland every m ale at age 19 years is legally obligated to appear before the Military Conscript Board, where health status is determined by physicians. We analyzed prevalence data concerning the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in four full surveys (1972, 1982, 1987, 1993). The study included dat a from 162 607 Swiss males at age 19 years. Case numbers of birth coho rts and prevalence rates per 1000 are the following: [GRAPHICS] Althou gh the number of years surveyed is limited, trend analysis showed no e vidence of an increase in the diabetes rates (total chi(2) = 4.953, DF = 3, 0.1 < p < 0.2; chi(2) due to linear regression = 3.013, DF = 1, 0.05 < p < 0.1; chi(2) due to departure from linear regression = 1.940 , DF = 2, 0.3 < p <0.5). Overall cumulative incidence of diabetes mell itus was 1.30/1000 conscripts (95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.48/1000 ). We conclude that, in contrast to reports from other European countr ies, the cumulative incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus h as not increased among cohorts of Swiss males at age 19 years.