The age at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes continues to decrease in Belgian boys but not in girls: a 15-year survey
Corresponding Author
I. Weets
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.Search for more papers by this authorR. Rooman
Department of Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorM. Coeckelberghs
Department of Pediatrics, Paola Children's Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorC. De Block
Department of Diabetology and Metabolism, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorL. Van Gaal
Department of Diabetology and Metabolism, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorJ.-M. Kaufman
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorB. Keymeulen
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorC. Mathieu
Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorE. Weber
Department of Endocrinology, St-Joseph Hospital, Arlon, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorD. G. Pipeleers
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorF. K. Gorus
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
I. Weets
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.Search for more papers by this authorR. Rooman
Department of Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorM. Coeckelberghs
Department of Pediatrics, Paola Children's Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorC. De Block
Department of Diabetology and Metabolism, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorL. Van Gaal
Department of Diabetology and Metabolism, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorJ.-M. Kaufman
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorB. Keymeulen
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorC. Mathieu
Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorE. Weber
Department of Endocrinology, St-Joseph Hospital, Arlon, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorD. G. Pipeleers
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorF. K. Gorus
Diabetes Research Center, Free University Brussels, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
The age at clinical onset of type 1 diabetes is decreasing. Preliminary Belgian data suggested that this anticipation occurred preferentially in boys. We investigated whether this gender-specific anticipation could be confirmed over a 15-year observation period.
Methods
In Antwerp, we studied incidence trends between 1989 and 2003 in 746 type 1 diabetic patients under age 40. For 2928 antibody-positive patients diagnosed nationwide during the same period, age at diagnosis was analysed according to gender and calendar year.
Results
In Antwerp, the incidence of type 1 diabetes under age 15 increased significantly with time from 10.9/100 000/year in 1989–1993 to 15.8/100 000/year in 1999–2003 (p = 0.008). The rising incidence in children was largely restricted to boys under age 10 where the incidence more than doubled during the 15-year period (6.8/100 000/year in 1989–1993 vs 17.2/100 000/year in 1999–2003; p < 0.001). Such an increase was not found in girls under age 10 (p = 0.54). This selective trend toward younger age at diagnosis in boys was confirmed in the larger group of Belgian patients where the median age at diagnosis decreased in boys—but not in girls—from 20 years in 1989–1993 to 15 years in 1999–2003 (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Over a 15-year observation period, a selective anticipation of clinical onset of type 1 diabetes was found in boys but not in girls. This suggests that an environmental factor may preferentially accelerate the sub-clinical disease process in young boys. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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