INCIDENCE OF DIABETES-MELLITUS IN VARIOUS POPULATION GROUPS IN ISRAEL(1989 AND 1990)

A prospective survey of all newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) children and adolescents aged 0-17 years in Israel wa s conducted for the years 1989 and 1990. All diabetic clinics in Israe l treating young diabetics were contacted and they returned written re ports to us. Each clinic was also visited regularly by a member of the team who reviewed the individual charts to obtain data on population origin as well as medical and demographic data. A total of 187 patient s were identified (164 Jews and 23 Arabs), giving a total incidence ra te of 5.46/10(5). Analysis of the incidence rates by population groups showed that Arabs and Jews originating in Asia had the lowest inciden ce (2.77 and 4.58/10(5) respectively), followed by Jews whose fathers were born in Israel (5.61/10(5)). The highest incidence was registered for Jews originating from Europe and North America (9.34/10(5)) The f emale-to-male preponderance ratio was higher in the Jews originating i n Asia (2.1) than in Jews originating in Europe and North America (1.2 ). Comparing the present data with a survey performed for the years 19 75-80 we found a statistically significant increase in incidence in al l population groups. Our findings strongly suggest an influence of gen etic factors on the incidence of childhood IDDM.