Family history and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate association of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents with positive family history of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and thyroid, adrenal, rheumatic, allergic, celiac and some other diseases. A case-control study was conducted in Belgrade. The case group comprised 105 subjects ≤16 years old who were for the first time hospitalized because of type 1 diabetes during the period 1994-1997. For each case, two controls were chosen among children and adolescents treated for skin diseases. Cases and controls were individually matched by age (± one year), sex and place of residence (all were from Belgrade). In the statistical analysis we used X2 test, Fisher's exact test and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, risk of type 1 diabetes was significantly associated with a positive family history for type 1 diabetes (OR=8.58; 95% CI, 3.28-22.46), type 2 diabetes (OR=4.04; 95% CI, 2.31-7.07), allergic diseases (OR=3.32; 95% CI, 1.63-6.76), celiac and Crohn's diseases (OR=11.02; 95% CI, 1.14-106.89) and other diseases (thrombocytopenia, alopecia areata, psoriasis, chronic uveitis and pernicious anemia; OR=3.63; 95% CI, 1.05-12.48).