Age at diagnosis and seasonal variation in the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes in Chile (Southern hemisphere)

The age at diagnosis, sex, and the date of both the diagnosis (month--year) and the onset of symptoms of 525 insulin-depdendent diabetic patients, under 30 years of age at the time of diagnosis, were collected retrospectively from hospital records. The patients came from Chilean cities located in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diabetologia 1979-12, Vol.17 (6), p.357-360
Main Authors: Durruty, P, Ruiz, F, García de los Ríos, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Child
Child, Preschool
Chile
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - epidemiology
Female
Humans
Infant
Insulin - therapeutic use
Male
Seasons
Sex Factors
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Summary:The age at diagnosis, sex, and the date of both the diagnosis (month--year) and the onset of symptoms of 525 insulin-depdendent diabetic patients, under 30 years of age at the time of diagnosis, were collected retrospectively from hospital records. The patients came from Chilean cities located in the Central Zone: Santiago (87%) and Temuco--Concepcion (13%). The age at diagnosis showed a bimodal distribution up to 19 years of age, with the main peak at 12 years and another at 6 years. The female peak preceded the male peak by 1 to 2 years. The onset of symptoms showed a seasonal variation, with the highest frequency in winter and the lowest in spring (P less than 0.01). There was also a significant variation in the time of diagnosis, especially in the 0--19 age group: most cases were diagnosed in winter (June, July) with the lowest number in summer (December).
ISSN:0012-186X
1432-0428
DOI:10.1007/BF01236269