DOI: 10.2337/dc06-0517 © 2006 by the American Diabetes Association
Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Philadelphia Is Higher in Black Than White Children From 1995 to 1999Epidemic or misclassification?
1 University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Address correspondence and reprint requests to Terri H. Lipman, PhD, CRNP, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 420 Guardian Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: lipman{at}nursing.upenn.edu OBJECTIVETo determine the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1995 through 1999 and compare these data with previous cohorts. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis is a report of a retrospective population-based registry maintained since 1985. Hospital records meeting the following criteria were reviewed: newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, age 014 years, residing in Philadelphia at the time of diagnosis, and diagnosed from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1999. The secondary source of validation was the School District of Philadelphia. Incidence rates by race and age were compared with 19851989 and 19901994 cohorts. RESULTSA total of 234 case subjects were identified, and the registry was determined to be 96% complete. The overall age-adjusted incidence rate in Philadelphia was 14.8 per 100,000/year. Incidence rates in Hispanic children (15.5 per 100,000/year) and white children (12.8 per 100,000/year) have been relatively stable over 15 years. The incidence in black children (15.2 per 100,000/year), however, has increased dramatically, rising 64% in children 59 years of age (14.9 per 100,000/year) and 37% in the 10- to 14-year age-group (26.9 per 100,000/year). CONCLUSIONSThe overall incidence of type 1 diabetes in Philadelphia is increasing and is similar to other U.S. registries. These are the first data reporting a higher incidence in black children in a registry of children 014 years of age. The etiology of the marked increase in incidence in the black population is unknown and underscores the need to establish type 1 diabetes as a reportable disease, so that environmental risk factors may be thoroughly investigated.
Abbreviations: WHO, World Health Organization
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