Research Article
Open Access
Incidence of type 1 diabetes in the children’s hospital dr.
Robert reid cabral, 2010-2019. Dominican republic
Elbi Morla1*, Rosario Almanzar2, Carmen Rosario3, Lunisol Rivera4, Michelle Burgos5, Mercedes Ramos6, Jorge Sansary7.
1*-6 Children’s hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral, Av. Abraham Lincoln 2, Santo Domingo 10101, DominicanRepublic
7Jorge F. Sansary, MD, MPH Data Manager / System Project Leader Jacobi Medical Center, NYC Health and Hospital Corporation, USA
7Jorge F. Sansary, MD, MPH Data Manager / System Project Leader Jacobi Medical Center, NYC Health and Hospital Corporation, USA
*Corresponding author: ElbiMorla, Children`hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral, Av. Abraham Lincoln 2, Santo Domingo 10101, Dominican Republic.Tel: +1
(809) 564 0871; E-mail:@
Received: October 11, 2022; Accepted: October 16, 2022; Published: November 19, 2022
Citation: Elbi Morla, Rosario Almanzar, Carmen Rosario, Lunisol Rivera et al. (2022) Incidence of type 1 diabetes in the children’s
hospital dr. Robert reid cabral, 2010-2019. Dominican republic. J Endocrinol Diab. 9(1): 1-6. DOI: 10.15226/2374-6890/3/4/001157
AbstractTop
Background
The Children HospitalDr.Robert Reid Cabral, the principal children hospital in the Dominican Republic has no recent data on type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence in children, therefore a study was undertaken to determine this in people aged <15 years (y).
Methods
Data were collected on all new T1D diagnoses between 2010-2019 from the The Children Hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral that care for children with T1D. Diagnosis was made according to standard American Diabetes Association criteria. No secondary ascertainment source was available. Significances around sex, age and incidence were assessed using the Chi-square (X2) and Pairwise Pearson Correlations tests.
Results
There were 513 new cases of T1D diagnosed in children aged < 15 y; a mean of 51.3 per year. Mean ± standard deviation age of T1D diagnosis was 8.5 ± 3.8 y, and there was also a not significant female preponderance ( p< 0.35). New cases were consistently highest in the 10-14 y (48.5%), and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (18.6%). Overall, mean crude annual incidence was 1.73 per 100,000 population, with no significant trend of increase or decrease.
The Children HospitalDr.Robert Reid Cabral, the principal children hospital in the Dominican Republic has no recent data on type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence in children, therefore a study was undertaken to determine this in people aged <15 years (y).
Methods
Data were collected on all new T1D diagnoses between 2010-2019 from the The Children Hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral that care for children with T1D. Diagnosis was made according to standard American Diabetes Association criteria. No secondary ascertainment source was available. Significances around sex, age and incidence were assessed using the Chi-square (X2) and Pairwise Pearson Correlations tests.
Results
There were 513 new cases of T1D diagnosed in children aged < 15 y; a mean of 51.3 per year. Mean ± standard deviation age of T1D diagnosis was 8.5 ± 3.8 y, and there was also a not significant female preponderance ( p< 0.35). New cases were consistently highest in the 10-14 y (48.5%), and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (18.6%). Overall, mean crude annual incidence was 1.73 per 100,000 population, with no significant trend of increase or decrease.
BackgroundTop
The Dr. Robert Reíd Cabral Children’s Hospital is located in
the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where it has
functioned as the main pediatric care center since 1961. During
the study period (2000-2019) the hospital offered care to
diabetics from patients from the southeast and southwest regions
whose territories occupy 64% of the population.
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, a country that occupies two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean which is considered by the United Nations an Upper Middle-Income Country (1).
Mean crude T1D annual incidence was 4.3 (95% CI 3.5–5.1) per 100,000 population < 15 years in a recent national study for the Domincan Republic was reported (2)
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, a country that occupies two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean which is considered by the United Nations an Upper Middle-Income Country (1).
Mean crude T1D annual incidence was 4.3 (95% CI 3.5–5.1) per 100,000 population < 15 years in a recent national study for the Domincan Republic was reported (2)
MethodsTop
Data collection
The Dominican Republic is divided into three departments:
Cibao or North, South-east and South-west ( 3 ).
All children in Dominican Republic aged <15 y diagnosed with T1D from south-east and South-west are routinely referred to the endocrinology service of the Pediatric Hospital Dr Robert Reid Cabral in Santo Domingo. The Children from Cibao or North were referred to the Hospital Dr Arturo Grullon in Santiago, the second major city of the country.
In this study, data were collected on new T1D diagnoses in patients aged <15 y, from the clinical records where it was analysed the age of diagnosis, sex, and annual incidence. No secondary ascertainment source could be identified.
Diagnosis of T1D was according to American Diabetes Association (4) based on a classic history and clinical features in the absence of features suggesting type 2 or secondary diabetes, by a pediatric endocrinology. Diabetes autoantibody and C-peptide assays are not routinely done in Dominican Republic. Two patients diagnosed aged <6 months and managed on oral agents were excluded as they presumably have monogenic diabetes.
Source population
At the last national census in 2010, the population of Dominican Republic was 9,445,281, with a slight male preponderance (50.2%) (5). Population data for each year from 2010-2019, for persons aged <15 y, were obtained from the National Statistics Office) (6); the population essentially remained stable during this period (2010=2,966,704; and 2019=2,963,951). In 2019, 27.6% of the population in the Dominican Republic was aged <15 y.
All children in Dominican Republic aged <15 y diagnosed with T1D from south-east and South-west are routinely referred to the endocrinology service of the Pediatric Hospital Dr Robert Reid Cabral in Santo Domingo. The Children from Cibao or North were referred to the Hospital Dr Arturo Grullon in Santiago, the second major city of the country.
In this study, data were collected on new T1D diagnoses in patients aged <15 y, from the clinical records where it was analysed the age of diagnosis, sex, and annual incidence. No secondary ascertainment source could be identified.
Diagnosis of T1D was according to American Diabetes Association (4) based on a classic history and clinical features in the absence of features suggesting type 2 or secondary diabetes, by a pediatric endocrinology. Diabetes autoantibody and C-peptide assays are not routinely done in Dominican Republic. Two patients diagnosed aged <6 months and managed on oral agents were excluded as they presumably have monogenic diabetes.
Source population
At the last national census in 2010, the population of Dominican Republic was 9,445,281, with a slight male preponderance (50.2%) (5). Population data for each year from 2010-2019, for persons aged <15 y, were obtained from the National Statistics Office) (6); the population essentially remained stable during this period (2010=2,966,704; and 2019=2,963,951). In 2019, 27.6% of the population in the Dominican Republic was aged <15 y.
Data analysesTop
Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe the sample, with age at T1D diagnosis expressed as mean±standard deviation
(minimum-maximum). Crude annual T1D incidence was calculated as number of newly diagnosed cases per 100,000 children in 5-y
(0-4, 5-9 and 10-14) and <15 y age brackets. Annual incidence was obtained by dividing the number of cases by the total population for
the age group and adjusting for 100,000 children at risk, and overall incidence (2010-2019) by dividing the total number of cases by the
total number of children at risk and adjusting for 100,000 children. Standardised rates were based on the 2019 world population <15
y (7). Significances around sex, age and incidence were assessed using the Chi-square (X2) and Pairwise Pearson Correlations tests.
95% Confidence Intervals (CI) are reported, and statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Analyses were undertaken using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 (Armonk, USA); G*Power version 3.1.9.6 (Heinrich Hein University Düsseldorf, Germany); MinitabStatistics version 20.4.1.0 (Minitab, Pennsylvania, United States of America); Graphpad Prism for Windows Ver 9.4,San Diego California, United States of America; MedCalc Software, Version 20.114,Acacialaan 22, Ostend, Belgium; Microsoft Office 365 (- Excel 365, - Word 365, - PowerPoint 365).
Analyses were undertaken using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 (Armonk, USA); G*Power version 3.1.9.6 (Heinrich Hein University Düsseldorf, Germany); MinitabStatistics version 20.4.1.0 (Minitab, Pennsylvania, United States of America); Graphpad Prism for Windows Ver 9.4,San Diego California, United States of America; MedCalc Software, Version 20.114,Acacialaan 22, Ostend, Belgium; Microsoft Office 365 (- Excel 365, - Word 365, - PowerPoint 365).
ResultsTop
Diagnoses and demographic data
There were 513 new cases of T1D diagnosed in children aged <15 y, between 2010-2019 (Table 1); a mean ± standard deviation51.3 ± 2.8 cases per year.
Overall age at T1D diagnosis was 8.71 ± 3.91 males and 8.38 ± 3.78 y in females.
Cases per age peaked at 10 y (Figure 1). There was also a significant female preponderance (n=315, 61.4% vs. n=198 38.7%; p<0.001) (Table 1); the male: female ratio was 0.63. Figure: 1 When examined by age group, each year new cases were consistently highest in the 10-14 y age group, and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (Table 1).
There were 513 new cases of T1D diagnosed in children aged <15 y, between 2010-2019 (Table 1); a mean ± standard deviation51.3 ± 2.8 cases per year.
Overall age at T1D diagnosis was 8.71 ± 3.91 males and 8.38 ± 3.78 y in females.
Cases per age peaked at 10 y (Figure 1). There was also a significant female preponderance (n=315, 61.4% vs. n=198 38.7%; p<0.001) (Table 1); the male: female ratio was 0.63. Figure: 1 When examined by age group, each year new cases were consistently highest in the 10-14 y age group, and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (Table 1).
y=Years; and T1D=Type 1 diabetes.
Figure 1 : Age onset of type 1 diabetes in HIRRC aged <15 y
Figure 1 : Age onset of type 1 diabetes in HIRRC aged <15 y
Table 1: TID cases and incidence ‹ 15 years in HIRRC |
|||||||||||
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Overall |
|
Population |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
2967710 |
2963572 |
2961566 |
2961447 |
2962490 |
2964047 |
2966846 |
2970016 |
2973167 |
2975626 |
29666487 |
Cases |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By age Group - n (%) |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Total |
0-4 y |
8 (15.8) |
11(20.0) |
10(19.2) |
12(21.4) |
7(14.3) |
9(19.1) |
8(15.7) |
12(23.1) |
5(10.4) |
11(21.6) |
93 (18.1) |
5-9 y |
22 (42.3) |
17(30.9) |
16(30.8) |
21(37.5) |
15(30.6) |
12(25.5) |
21(41.2) |
19(36.5) |
14(29.2) |
14(27.5) |
171(33.3) |
10-14 y |
22(42.3) |
27(49.1) |
26(50.0) |
23(41.1) |
27(55.1) |
26(55.3) |
22(43.1) |
21(40.4) |
29(60.4) |
26(51.0) |
249(48.5) |
By gender - n (%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
34 (65.4) |
26 (47.3) |
29 (55.8) |
36 (64.3) |
35 (71.4) |
33 (70.2) |
36 (70.6) |
28 (53.8) |
28 (58.3) |
30 (58.8) |
315 (61.4) |
Male |
18 (34.6 |
29 (52.7) |
23 (44.2) |
20 (35.7) |
14 (28.6) |
14 (29.8) |
15 (29.4) |
24 (46.2) |
20 (41.7) |
21 (41.2) |
198(38.6) |
Total |
52 |
55 |
52 |
56 |
49 |
47 |
51 |
52 |
48 |
51 |
513 |
Incidence per 100,000 (95% CI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
By age group |
|
|
|||||||||
0-4 y |
0.8 (0.4 ,1.6) |
1.1 (0.6, 2.0) |
1.0 (0.5, 1.9) |
1.2 (0.7, 2.1) |
0.7 (0.3, 1.5 |
0.9 (0.5, 1.7) |
0.8 (0.4, 1.8) |
1.2 (0.7, 2.1) |
0.5 (0.2, 1.2) |
1.1 (0.6, 2.0) |
0.9 (0.8, 1.1) |
5-9 y |
2.4 (1.5, 3.4) |
1.7 (1.1, 2.8) |
1.6 (1.0, 2.7) |
2.1 (1.4, 3.3) |
1.5 (0.9, 2.5) |
1.2 (0.7, 2.2) |
2.1 (1.4, 3.3) |
1.9 (1.7, 3.0) |
1.4 (0.8, 2.4) |
1.4 (0.8, 2.4) |
1.7 (1.5, 2.0) |
10-14 y |
2.2 (1.5, 3.4) |
2.73 (1.9, 4.0) |
2.6 (1.8, 3.9) |
2.3 (1.6, 3.5) |
2.8 (1.9, 4.0) |
2.7 (1.8, 3.9) |
2.3 (1.5, 3.4) |
2.2 (1.4, 3.3) |
3.0 (2.1, 4.3) |
2.7 (1.8, 3.9) |
2.5 (2.2, 2.9) |
By gender |
|
||||||||||
Female |
2.3 (1.6, 3.2) |
1.8 (1.2, 2.6) |
2.0 (1.4, 2.9) |
2.5 (1.8, 3.4) |
2.4 (1.7, 3.4) |
2.3 (1.6, 3.2) |
2.5 (1.8, 3.4) |
1.9 (1.3, 2.8) |
1.9 (1.3, 2.8) |
2.1 (1.4, 2.9) |
2.2 (1.9, 2.4) |
Males |
1.2 (0.8, 2.0) |
1.9 (1.3, 2.8) |
1.5 (1.0, 2.3) |
1.3 (0.9, 2.1) |
0.9 (0.6, 1.6) |
0.9 (0.6, 1.6) |
1.0 (0.6, 1.6) |
1.6 (1.1, 2.4) |
1.3 (0.9, 2.0) |
1.4 (0.9, 2.1) |
1.3 (1.1, 1.5) |
Total |
1.8 (1.3, 2.3) |
1.9 (1.4, 2.4) |
1.8 (1.3, 2.3) |
1.9 (1.5, 2.5) |
1.7 (1.3, 2.2) |
1.6 (1.2, 2.1) |
1.7 (1.3, 2.3) |
1.8 (1.3, 2.3) |
1.6 (1.2, 2.1) |
1.7 (1.3, 2.3) |
1.7 (1.6, 1.9) |
T1D incidenceTop
Overall, crude annual incidence was mean (range) 1.73 per
100,000.
When examined per 5-y age group, incidence did not significantly vary, being highest in the 10-14y age group, and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (, Table 1, and Figures 2 and 3).
When examined per 5-y age group, incidence did not significantly vary, being highest in the 10-14y age group, and lowest in the 0-4 y age group (, Table 1, and Figures 2 and 3).
DiscussionTop
This is the first study to provide epidemiological data on T1D
in children in HIRRC since the 1990s. Peak age of onset was
greater in Age group 10-14. The incidence of 1.7 per 100,000
population over the period 2010-2019, in individuals <15 y is
statistically significant less when compare with rate in Dom Rep
(4.1 100,000) p< 0.000 but the hospital only received patient for
some area of the country.
Incidence of type 1 diabetes by year in HIRRC children aged < 15 y was very constant probably due to the increased in this population yearly.
Due to genetic and environmental factors T1D incidence in children <15 y varies widely across different continents and between countries, (8,9,10)
T1D incidence is highest in northern-European-origin populations, in some Arab populations in the Middle East and North Africa (11,12,13).
In some Latin-American countries the incidence reported is
Incidence of type 1 diabetes by year in HIRRC children aged < 15 y was very constant probably due to the increased in this population yearly.
Due to genetic and environmental factors T1D incidence in children <15 y varies widely across different continents and between countries, (8,9,10)
T1D incidence is highest in northern-European-origin populations, in some Arab populations in the Middle East and North Africa (11,12,13).
In some Latin-American countries the incidence reported is
Figure 2 : Incidence of type 1 diabetes by year in HIRRC children aged < 15 y.
T1D=Type 1 diabetes; y=Years
Figure 3 : Incidence of type 1 diabetes by gender in HIRRC < 15 y.
There was not a statistically significant difference between the incident x100,000 by gender vs age group: Chi-S = 0.54, DF= 2, P = 0. 0.7603
Figure 3 : Incidence of type 1 diabetes by gender in HIRRC < 15 y.
There was not a statistically significant difference between the incident x100,000 by gender vs age group: Chi-S = 0.54, DF= 2, P = 0. 0.7603
variable : Brazil (16.3)14, than Colombia, Bolivia (both 2.2) (15)
(16), and, but much lower than Chile (13.9) (17) and . Mexico
(3.2) (18).
The absence of a single health system in Latin American countries makes it difficult to obtain global data and rather correspond to segments of the population. In the Dominican Republic, those who go to public hospitals such as the HIRRC are usually the middle and poor social classes although we do not believe that diabetics from other social extracts are so abundant and these at some point consult the public system in search of other experiences.
The TID incidence in HIRRC is low compared to the reported for the country but the increase in new cases observed in the Dominican Republic and in all the countries after Covid19 pandemia surely will change this perception
As the limitation of a retrospective study, this information is very valuable for the hospital assistant.
The absence of a single health system in Latin American countries makes it difficult to obtain global data and rather correspond to segments of the population. In the Dominican Republic, those who go to public hospitals such as the HIRRC are usually the middle and poor social classes although we do not believe that diabetics from other social extracts are so abundant and these at some point consult the public system in search of other experiences.
The TID incidence in HIRRC is low compared to the reported for the country but the increase in new cases observed in the Dominican Republic and in all the countries after Covid19 pandemia surely will change this perception
As the limitation of a retrospective study, this information is very valuable for the hospital assistant.
ConclusionsTop
The incidence of T1 Diabetes in children aged <15 years assisted
in the principal children hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic is low according to the international parameter IDF
region.
Author contributionsTop
ElbiMorla, Rosario Almanzar, Carmen Rosario codesigned the
study. Lunisol Rivera, Michelle Burgos collected data, and assisted
with confirming patient information. Jorge Sansary assisted with
data interpretation. All authors co-wrote the manuscript.
AcknowledgmentsTop
The authors would like to acknowledge staff at the children`s
hospital Dr, Robert Reid Cabral Endocrinology department for
their ongoing assistance and organize the data.
Competing interestsTop
None declared.
Ethics approvalTop
The study was approved by the children’s hospital Dr Robert
Reid Cabral Ethical Committee, which included the decision that
informed consent was not required.
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