ISSN:
1432-0428
Keywords:
Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
;
childhood
;
social environment
;
perinatal factors
;
breast-feeding
;
epidemiology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Using the Swedish childhood diabetes register, a nationwide, case-referent study was performed from September 1, 1985 to August 31, 1986. Based on the information from a mailed questionnaire sent to all incident diabetic children and for each diabetic child — two referent children matched according to age, sex, and county, we have analysed perinatal events and aspects of the social environment as possible risk factors for Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes in childhood. A significantly larger proportion of the mothers of the diabetic children were older than 40 years compared to those of the referent children (33% and 24%, p=0.01 respectively). A smaller percentage of mothers of the diabetic children had a high educational level compared to mothers of referent children (10% and 15%, p=0.03 respectively) and 39% of the fathers of the diabetic children were manual workers compared to 31% of the fathers of referent children (p=0.03). Perinatal events did not differ between diabetic and referent children. In children 0–6 years, the duration of breast-feeding was significantly shorter in diabetic children than among referent children (median duration for diabetic children 5 months compared to 6 months for referent children p=0.03). When considering the presence of Type 1 diabetes among relatives, maternal age over 40 years, low educational level of the mother, and the father being a manual worker as risk factors, the presence of 1 to 4 of any of these risk factors increased the relative risk for Type 1 diabetes cumulatively from 1.2–7.5. In conclusion, breast-feeding habits and probably other factors dependent on maternal age and the social status of the family may further increase the risk for Type 1 diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00265397
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