INCIDENCE OF IDDM IN MAURITIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS FROM 1986 TO 1990

OBJECTIVE- To document the incidence of IDDM in Mauritian children and adolescents 0-19 yr of age from 1986 to 1990. RESEARCH DESIGN AND MET HODS - We used a population- based register that used pediatricians, p hysicians, nutritionists, and general practitioners as a primary sourc e of restrospective case ascertainment. The denominator data were obta ined from the Statistics Office of the Ministry of Health (Port Louis, Mauritius). RESULTS- In 1990, 37 newly diagnosed IDDM cases (22 femal es and 15 males) were identified between 1986 and 1990 among the popul ation less-than-or-equal-to 19 yr of age. The average incidence densit y per year was 1.9/100,000 people and was slightly higher among girls (2.2/100,000) than among boys (1.5/100,000). The average age-standardi zed incidence density was 2.1/100,000 people (95% confidence interval 1.5-3.0) among children less-than-or-equal-to 14 yr of age, 2.5/100,00 0 people (95% confidence interval 1.5-3.9) among girls, and 1.8/100,00 0 people (95% confidence interval 1.0-3.0) among boys. The incidence w as similarly low in Mauritians of Asian Indian, Chinese, and Creole (p redominantly African) origin. CONCLUSIONS- The incidence of IDDM in Ma uritian children and adolescents is among the lowest yet reported. Thi s sharply contrasts with the very high risk of NIDDM found among the a dult population in this rapidly modernizing country.