High incidence of type 1 diabetes in the immigrant population of Osona and Baix Camp

• Published in: Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 176 - 181
• Main Authors: Torrabías-Rodas, Meritxell, Feliu-Rovira, Albert, Porcar-Cardona, Ines, Altimiras-Roset, Jacint
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - epidemiology; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Retrospective Studies; Spain - epidemiology; Time Factors; Diabetes mellitus tipo 1; Immigration; Inmigración; Incidencia; Incidence; Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 1695-9531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2015.10.013

It has been postulated that migration could act as a modifying factor in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), so the aim of this study is to determine if there are differences in the incidence of T1DM by origin. Retrospective study of cases of T1DM onset in the population younger than 19 years old in Osona and Baix Camp between 2000 and 2012, using the medical histories of endocrinology units of the health centres and demographics from Catalonia Statistical Institute as sources. The child population in Osona and Baix Camp increased by 36.6%, with 18.9% in the local population, and 482% in the immigrant population, and most of this increase (90%) in the Maghreb immigrant group. A total of 118 diabetics onset were found, 66.9% in the local population, 32.2% Maghrebi population, and 0.9% in children from other countries, with a total incidence rate of 14.4 cases per 100,000 population/year (c/10 p-y). The incidence is higher in the Maghrebi population compared to the local population, 37.1 vs 11.2 c/10 p-y (P<.001), and in children under 5 years compared to the 5-18 years group, 18.9 vs 12.5 c/10 p-y (P<.05), with no differences between sexes (P>.05). The relative risk is 3.1 for the Maghrebi population, and 1.5 for children under 5 years. The total incidence of T1DM remains stable, but is higher in the Maghrebi than in the local population, and in children under 5 years compared to 5-18 years group. These results opens a study field of which risk factors could be affecting this immigrant population in their destination countries.