European Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 168, Issue 5, 2009, Pages 613-617

Incidence of diabetes mellitus among children of Italian migrants substantiates the role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (Article)

Ehehalt S. , Popovic P. , Muntoni S. , Willasch A. , Hub R. , Ranke M.B. , Neu A.*
  • a University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
  • b University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
  • c Centre for Metabolic Diseases and Atherosclerosis, University School of Cagliari, Viale Merello 23/29, Cagliari 09123, Italy; Centre for Metabolic Diseases and Atherosclerosis, University School of Cagliari, Viale Merello 23/29, Cagliari 09123, Italy, Department of Toxicology, Unit of Oncology and Molecular Pathology, University School of Cagliari, Via Ospedale, Cagliari 72 - 09124, Italy
  • d University Children's Hospital of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60590, Germany
  • e University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
  • f University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
  • g University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 1, Tuebingen 72076, Germany

Abstract

To investigate the role of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), we carried out a study in Germany aimed at comparing the prevalence and incidence of T1D among children of migrant Italians from high-risk (Sardinia) and low-risk (continental Italy) regions versus German children. Children from Italy were identified by the "Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) Diabetes Incidence Registry", which registered 4017 newly diagnosed T1D patients, aged 0-14 years, between 1987 and 2003. Data relating to T1D children from Sardinia were elicited from more than 2000 questionnaires. Our findings were: (1) T1D is more frequent among German children than among children of Italian migrants [incidence rate (IR) 14.8/100,000/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.4-15.4 vs. IR 10.8/100,000/year, 95% CI 8.2-13.6); (2) the incidence of T1D among Italian children residing in Germany is similar to that of Italian children in the home country (IR 10.8/100,000/year, 95% CI 8.2-13.6 vs. 8.4/100,000/year, 95% CI 7.9-8.9); (3) the prevalence of T1D among Sardinian children is higher than that among German children (0.11%, 95% CI 0.11-0.12) independent of the place where the Sardinian children are living (Sardinian children in Germany 2.3%, 95% CI 0.5-6.5 vs. Sardinian children in Sardinia 0.30%, 95% CI 0.27-0.32). Conclusion: Children from high- and low-risk areas of Italy have incidence rates of T1D that are closer to those of their native regions than to those of German children, indicating that genetic factors play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of T1D. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.

Author Keywords

Type 1 diabetes mellitus migration studies Pathogenesis Children

Index Keywords

genotype Germany insulin dependent diabetes mellitus pathogenesis race difference human priority journal Young Adult Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn disease registry Emigrants and Immigrants Infant Child, Preschool questionnaire high risk population prevalence Incidence Article major clinical study adult migration heredity Italy child care Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-62949234045&doi=10.1007%2fs00431-008-0808-9&partnerID=40&md5=d24373530d6288e7ef47284230c05f90
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-008-0808-9
ISSN: 03406199
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English