Steep increase of incidence of childhood diabetes since 1999 in Austria. Time trend analysis 1979–2005. A nationwide study

Abstract
In a prospective population-based incidence study all newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients 0–92%. The overall incidence rate doubled from 7.3 (95% CI; 6.8–7.9)/100,000 in the period 1979–84 to 14.6 (95% CI, 13.7–15.4)/100,000 in the time period 2000–2005. A significant increase during the observation period of 26 years could be demonstrated in all age groups and both sexes (p<0.01), with the steepest increment during the last 5 years. Until 1994 the incidence rate in children 0–<5 years was rather stable, but afterwards increased dramatically with 9.2% (95% CI, 5.2–13.4) annually. Despite this steep increase in time trend, we did not observe a seasonal variation in this age group (0–<5) in contrast to significant seasonal variations in the groups 5–<10 and 10–<15 years of age. Over the past 26 years incidence of type 1 diabetes in childhood increased clearly in Austria. The steepest rise was observed in the last 5 years and in the younger age groups.