Type 1 Diabetes Incidence Trends in a Cohort of Turkish Children and Youth

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the incidence trend and annual average incidence change of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in the population <18 years of age in Malatya province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical files of patients followed up with T1DM in pediatric endocrinology clinics were reviewed. The data for the child census was taken from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), and T1DM incidence was analyzed according to the calendar year, gender, and age groups. Recently diagnosed T1DM patients per 100 000 children per year were calculated. In addition, the trend in annual incidence change over the period 2007-2019 was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean incidence of T1DM during the 13 years was 13.1/10(5) child years (13.8/10(5) child years for girls and 12.4/10(5) child years for boys). During the 13-year follow-up period, a significant increasing trend in the incidence of T1DM was detected. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was 8.3%. According to age groups, the average AAPC was 8.1% between 0 and 4 years old, 9.4% between 5 and 9 years old, 12.1% between 10 and 14 years old, and 30.1% between 15 and 17 years old. CONCLUSION: The incidence of T1DM in children under 18 years of age in Malatya, one of the largest cities in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, was determined as 13.1/10(5) child years in the last 13 years and the average annual increase rate was 8.3%.