The epidemiology of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus in Romania

The ONROCAD Study group was established to provide descriptive epidemiologi cal information on type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in Romania. Data on all ne w patients with type 1 DM with onset before age 15 years during the four-ye ar period 1992-1995 in Romania were submitted from all members of the ONROC AD Study Group, representing all doctors and clinics that manage children w ith DM in Romania, Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were estimated, us ing available demographic data. A total of 706 new patients with type 1 DM and onset 0-14 years was registered. The overall completeness of ascertainm ent was estimated at 93.5%. For all Romania, the incidence of childhood-ons et type 1 DM was estimated at 3.57/100,000/year. The incidence in the three regions was statistically significantly different (p = 0.002), with high r ates in Transylvania and low rates in Muntenia. Girls had a significantly h igher incidence than boys for each of the age groups 0-4, 5-9 and 10-14 yea rs. Between these age groups, the incidence increased significantly with ag e. The incidence of childhood-onset type 1 DM is among the lowest recorded in Europe. Significant, but unexplained, geographical variation exists with in Romania. Searches for factors to explain this heterogeneity may provide clues to the etiology of childhood-onset type 1 DM.