The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Europe increases by more than 3%

MADRID, 29th November (EUROPA PRESS) –

A new study published in & # 39; Diabetologia & # 39; – the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) – shows that the number of new cases of type 1 diabetes is increasing by 3.4% per year in Europe. If this trend continues, it will double over the next 20 years, according to the findings of the study, coordinated by Professor Chris Patterson of the Center for Public Health at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

In a context of almost universal increases in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children, recent reports from some countries suggest a slowdown in this increase. Occasional studies also describe cyclical variations in incidence, with periodicities between 4 and 6 years. In this new work, the authors analyzed the age-sex standardized incidence rates for the 0-14 age group using data from 26 European centers (representing 22 countries) that registered individuals. newly diagnosed in geographically defined areas. more than 25 years in the period 1989-2013.

The data showed a significant increase in incidence in all but two centers, with a maximum rate of increase of 6.6% per year in a Polish center. Several centers in high-impact countries, including Finland and Norway, as well as two centers in the United Kingdom, have seen reduction rates in recent years. Despite this, a joint analysis in all centers showed an annual 3.4% increase in the incidence rate, although it suggested a reduction in the rate of increase over the period 2004-2008, when it fell at 1.1%. % annual

SIMILAR INCREASES IN BOTH SEXES

The rates of increase were similar for boys and girls in the age group 0 to 4 years (3.7% per year in both cases) and the 5 to 9 age group (3.4 and 3, 7 years). percentage per year, respectively), but were higher for boys than girls in the 10-14 age group (3.3 and 2.6% per year, respectively). A significant periodicity of four years was detected in four centers (Germany-Saxony, Germany North Rhine-Westphalia, Switzerland and United Kingdom Oxford).

The authors say: "The growing number of children diagnosed with this chronic disease, coupled with a well-documented and sustained increase in morbidity and mortality, has important implications for those planning and providing medical care. if this is due to environmental causes or gene-environment interactions, which could eventually lead to disease prevention, means that we must continue to work to improve the quality of care to help reduce long-term complications. deaths related to diabetes ".

And they add, "The solution is to improve blood glucose control through more sophisticated methods of insulin delivery, but also to a greater investment in services to support well-trained and dedicated care teams. with a sufficient number to meet the growing needs of this group of children and their families ".