POPULATION-BASED INCIDENCE OF IDDM IN THE STATE OF SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

OBJECTIVE- To study the incidence of IDDM among children, infants to 1 4 yr of age, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1987-1991. RESEARCH DE SIGN AND METHODS - A prospective population-based register was establi shed, using physician reports of newly diagnosed IDDM patients < 15 yr of age as the primary source of case identification and school survey s as the main secondary source. Data were collected according to the m ethods recommended by the Diabetes Epidemiology Research International group. RESULTS - Case ascertainment was estimated at 95.0, 92.8, and 98.8% complete for each of the three cities studied. The average annua l IDDM incidence was 7.6/100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval, 5.6-9.7). We found a higher incidence rate in girls than boys. CONCLU SIONS - The incidence of childhood IDDM in a tropical region in South America (Sao Paulo, Brazil) is in the middle incidence range observed in developed countries throughout the world. Increased incidence of ID DM in girls compared with boys will be tested by the ongoing Brazilian incidence study being developed in 18 other centers across the countr y.