Type 1 diabetes mellitus incidence in Santiago, Chile. Analysis by counties in the period 2000-2004

Background: There are great geographical differences in the incidence of type I diabetes mellitus. Aim: To determine the incidence rate of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004 and to observe the distribution of cases in the different counties of Santiago. Material and methods: All the cases diagnosed with DM1 in the Metropolitan Region who fulfilled the following requirements were included in the study: age of onset <15 years, insulin treatment from onset, permanent residency in the area, and a diagnosis made between January, 2000 and December, 2004. Results: The incidence of DM1 was 6.58/ 100.000 inhabitants/year, and showed a significant increase from 2001 to 2004 (5.44 and 8.33 inhabitants/year, respectively, p