Prevalence of type 1 diabetes among 6- to 18- year- old Kuwaiti children

ABSTRACT

To determine the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among 6- to 18-year-old Kuwaiti children according to gender, age, and region. Subjects and Children with type 1 diabetes aged 6-18 years were identified at 182 schools [50 primary, 63 intermediate, and 69 secondary] in Kuwait during the study period October 2000 to September 2002. Schools were randomly selected using the 2000/01 educational districts' registers as sampling frame proportional to the number of schools in each district. Prevalence rates were adjusted to the 2002 Kuwaiti population. Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes was based on the World Health Organization, and the American Diabetes Association criteria. Prevalence of type 1 diabetes was 269.9 per 100,000 [95% confidence interval, CI 241.6-298.3]. There was no significant difference in prevalence between male [247.6, 95% CI 205.2-290.0] and female [285.5, 95% CI 247.5-323.5]. Type 1 diabetes was more prevalent in the age group 10-13 years [347.3], and lowest in the age group 6-9 years [182.6] per 100,000; the difference was significant at p < 0.001. The overall age-adjusted prevalence rate was 252.9 [95% CI 234.6-271.2], 229.1 [95% CI 204.6-253.6] in male and 277.4 [95% CI 250.0-304.7] in female children in the 2002 Kuwaiti population. The mean age at onset was 9.2, and 8.1 years in male and female children, respectively [p = 0.018]. There was no significant difference in prevalence between regions. Type 1 diabetes is a common chronic disease in Kuwaiti children