Abstract
We analyzed the associations of environmental factors with the regional distribution
of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in Austria. All newly diagnosed cases (n = 1449) from 1989 to 1999 were allocated to districts using the postal code. Nitrate
content of the water was measured by the Austrian Federal Environmental Agency. Data
on infant mortality, population density, and percentage of employment by industry
were derived from Statistics Austria. An inverse effect was seen between the proportion
of children younger than 15 years of age and the risk ratio (P<.01). Infant mortality, population density, and percentage of persons with employment
in industry were not of significant influence. The mean nitrate level was positively
associated (P = .07). In regions with a higher percentage of children younger than 15 years of age,
fewer children developed diabetes, which is in agreement with the observation that
early social mixing is a protective factor. Nitrate levels may have a confounding
effect.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 18,
2002
Received in revised form:
November 13,
2002
Received:
August 1,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
