Perinatal determinants among children who later develop IDDM.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether children who develop insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) differ in some aspects from a matched control group at the time of birth.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied all children who were born in Denmark during the period 1973-1977 and admitted to a Danish hospital with a diagnosis of IDDM during 1978-1989. The study was conducted by combining two nationwide registries, The National Patient Registry and The Birth Registry.

RESULTS

The criteria were fulfilled by 837 children. Data regarding the age of the parents, the number of previous pregnancies of the mother, the month of birth, and the birth weight and length of the children who developed IDDM were compared with the data of an age- and sex-matched control group of 837 children without IDDM. We did not detect any significant differences between the two groups with respect to the parameters studied.

CONCLUSIONS

No differences in perinatal determinants could be demonstrated among Danish children who develop IDDM compared with children without diabetes.