[Incidence and clinical manifestations at onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Galicia (Spain): 2001-2002].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and laboratory results at onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children aged 0-14 years from January 2001 to December 2002.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All children younger than 14 years old living in Galicia (Spain) and admitted to one of the hospitals of the Galician health service with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus from 2001-2002 were included. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on age, sex, place of residence, associated autoimmune disorders, family history, clinical manifestations before onset and their duration, and biochemical parameters at diagnosis (glycemia, HbA1c, pH and bicarbonate).

RESULTS

A total of 109 children were diagnosed (48 girls and 61 boys). The annual incidence (per 100,000 pediatric inhabitants) was 17.6. A higher frequency was found in winter (33 %) and spring (26 %) than in autumn (21.3 %) and summer (20.3 %). Admissions were most frequent among 5-9 year-olds (40.3 %), followed by 10-14 year-olds (33 %) and 0-4 year-olds (26.6 %). The most frequent clinical manifestations were polyuria and polydipsia (95.8 %). Nycturia or enuresis and weight loss were also described. The mean duration of these symptoms was 25.4 days in the group of children aged between 10-14 years old, 21.7 days in those aged 5-9 years old and 13.6 days in those younger than 4 years old. In one-third of the patients, the initial presentation was ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among Galician children is high. The interval between the onset of the first symptoms and diagnosis is long. In 31.7 % of the patients, the initial event was ketoacidosis.