Incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the 0- to 17-yr-old Israel population, 1997-2003

Background: Recent reports from different countries have shown an increased incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A national juvenile diabetes register was established by the Israel Pediatric Endocrine Society and the Israel Center for Disease Control (ICDC) in 1997. Objective: This article reports the epidemiology of T1DM in children in the age-group 0-17 yr in Israel during 1997-2003. Methods: The Israel juvenile diabetes register is a population-based anonymous registry. Newly diagnosed cases of all types of diabetes in children and adolescents are reported to the ICDC by all the endocrinologists in all the pediatric diabetes centers. Overall incidence rates and rates by sex, age, and population group are presented. Comparisons are made by year, sex, age, and population group. Results: During 1997-2003, 1485 children and adolescents with T1DM werereported in the age-group 0-17 yr. The annual incidence rate of T1DM increased by 34% during 1997-2003, from 8.0 per 100 000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.8-9.3] to 10.7 per 100 000 (95% CI 9.4-12.1). Incidence rates were higher for Jews than for Arabs. Among Jews, children of Yemenite origin had the highest incidence rate (26.1 per 100 000; 95% CI 13.3-38.9). Incidence peaked at an earlier age in girls. A first-degree family history of T1DM was found in 9.1% of the cases. Conclusions: The incidence of T1DM is increasing in the Israeli population, particularly in the Arab population. The culturally varied composition of the Israeli population provides important areas for future studies based on data collected in this national register.