OBJECTIVE

This observational study assesses trends in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) disease burden across the 19 countries of the European Union (EU) 15+ between 1990 and 2019.

METHODS

The Global Burden of Disease Study database was used to gather T1DM age-standardised incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates per 100,000 for each EU15+ country (1990 - 2019). Joinpoint regression analysis was used to describe the trends.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, T1DM ASIRs and ASPRs increased globally except for females in Finland (-2.9% and -9.4%), the largest increase in ASPR for males and females was observed in France (+144.4% and +137.5% respectively). All had reductions in ASMRs for males and females, with the largest observed in Spain (-56.7% and -79.0% respectively). Trends in DALYs were variable across countries, with increases in DALYs noted in 14/19 for males, and 9/19 for females. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden had a reduction in DALYs for both males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality from T1DM is reducing across EU15+ countries, despite concomitant increases in incidence and prevalence rates. Trends in DALYs are variable across countries, reflecting differential trends in the disease burden across countries with similarly high health expenditure.