INCIDENCE, AGE AT ONSET AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN NORWEGIAN CHILDREN, 1973–1977

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Abstract
A retrospective study was undertaken to estimate the incidence of diabetes mellitus in Norwegian children. Data were collected from all hospitals in the country and from a central insurance register. New cases (845) in the age group 0-14 yr and with onset in the 5-yr study period 1973-1977 were detected. The calculated mean annual incidence was 17.6/100,000 children, with a year-to-year variation of 15.4-19.3/100,000. The geographic variation in incidence was considerable with the lowest rate in the North (6.8/100,000 per yr) and the highest rates in the southeastern part of the country (approximately 20/100,000 per yr). There was a significantly higher incidence for boys (18.8/100,000 per yr) than for girls (16.4/100,000 per yr). The age variation in the incidence rates showed rising values towards a peak at 12 yr for girls and a plateau at 12-14 yr for boys, with an abrupt decline after 12 and 14 yr, respectively. There were more cases with onset in the winter and autumn, with significant peaks in Feb. and Oct. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the age group 0-14 yr can be calculated to 1.2/1000 children. In the whole of Norway, about 170 new cases of diabetes mellitus below the age of 15 yr can be expected evey year. Compared with previous studies, the data suggest an increasing incidence of childhood diabetes in Norway.