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

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among 6- to 18-year-old Kuwaiti children according to gender, age, and region. SUBJECTS AND METHODS 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. RESULTS 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. CONCLUSION Type 1 diabetes is a common chronic disease in Kuwaiti children.