Diabetes Incidence and Prevalence in Children and Adolescents in Germany-20 Years Diabetes Registry Baden-Wurttemberg

In Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany) newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes in childhood (age 0-14 years) have been registered since 1987. All 31 paediatric departments in Baden-Wurttemberg and one diabetes center are part of this network (diabetes registry group Baden-Wurttemberg=DIARY). This collaboration forms part of the international network EURODIAB and the World Health Organization multinational project for childhood diabetes DIAMOND. Hospital reports were the primary data source. Data deriving from surveys done during meetings of children and adolescents with diabetes were used as a secondary data source to assess completeness of data. The estimates were done by the Capture-mark-recapture-method. In the present day 5108 cases have been registered. The degree of ascertainment was calculated with 98.1% for combination of primary and secondary data source. The incidence rate for type I diabetes in childhood is rising continuously. The current incidence rate since the year 2000 is 19.4/100 000/year (95% CI 18.6-20.2). Assuming a linear rise the incidence in the year 2020 will be approximately 30/100 000/year reflecting a considerable increase of diabetes in young people since the 1980s. Like in other European countries type 2 diabetes in childhood is a rather rare condition in Baden-Wurttemberg with a prevalence of 2.3/100 000/year.