EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TYPE 1 DIABETES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Data from numerous large-scale epidemiologic studies shows that the incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing worldwide by 2% to 5% in pediatric population. Up to nowadays, there is lack of studies on the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Republic of Armenia, while the epidemiological characteristics is limited to official statistical data according to the special reporting form. Current study aimed to reveal the main epidemiologic features, such as prevalence, incidence, and urban-rural ratio of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents in the Republic of Armenia in a 6-year period: 2007-2012. Within the research, data on the increase in incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents during the specified period was obtained; the growth rate was approximately 33% in 2007-2012. In 2012, the mean annual incidence rate of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents was 9.08 per 100,000 of pediatric population with male predominance, while the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus made 53.3 per 100,000. A difference in urban-rural disease prevalence was found: the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the urbanized capital city Yerevan was 2.6 times higher than in regions of Armenia (p<0.05). In 2007-2012 the mean age of type 1 diabetes mellitus manifestation had tendency to decrease, but it did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). Based on findings of the regional analysis the map of the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents of Armenia was created as the platform and the first step for the formation of the National Registry of Diabetes Mellitus in the specified population group. Creation of the Registry and carrying out continuous epidemiologic studies will give an opportunity to obtain more detailed standardized data on epidemiology of diabetes mellitus, its complications and associated diseases, as well as prognostic features.