Childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The aim of this study was to calculate incidence and hospitalization rates of childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to assess hospitalization trends and associated factors.Data for all patients aged 0–19 years with a diagnosis of T1DM was obtained from the clinical database management system (CDMS) for a 7-year period between April 1, 1995 and March 31, 2002. Incidence was calculated for the 0–7 years age group.A total of 894 T1DM hospital separations among children aged 0–19 years were identified, representing a hospitalization rate of 88.6 per 100,000 person-years (P-Y). The CDMS identified 518 incidences of hospitalization (51.2 per 100,000 P-Y). The overall hospitalization rate increased over the study period (P(2) = 0.065). Hospitalization rates for males and females were 77.3 and 100.2 per 100,000 P-Y, respectively (P(2) = 0.00011). Of the 894 hospitalization separations, 216 hospitalizations were for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (21.4 per 100,000 P-Y). Female gender and older age were found to be predictive factors of DKA. The incidence rate of T1DM among children aged 0–7 years was 19.0 per 100,000 P-Y.Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest incidence rates of T1DM in the world. Hospitalization rates for DKA and non-DKA increased slightly over the study period. Age and sex patterns suggest that DKA is a particular challenge among adolescent girls. Preventive strategies are needed, particularly in areas of the province with the highest rates.