Purpose: To document the number of new pediatric cases of type 1 diabetes diagnosed each year, from 1989 to 2000, in the province of Québec. To analyze secular trends and age of presentation during the same period.
Methods: Data, gathered through a government allocation program, provided the number of reported new cases. The data bank also made available the age at diagnosis, sex and geographic distribution of cases.
Results: A steady number of new cases, approximately 240 p.a., was diagnosed over the 12-years. The annual incidence in the pediatric population of Québec was 15 per 100,000. There was no trend towards earlier age at diagnosis.
Conclusions: We found no evidence of increase in the number of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Québec between 1989-2000. Also, over the same period, the data did not support a younger age at diagnosis.