Status and trends of diabetes in Chinese children: analysis of data from 14 medical centers

Jun-Fen Fu, Li Liang, Chun-Xiu Gong, Feng Xiong, Fei-Hong Luo, Ge-Li Liu, Pin Li, Li Liu, Ying Xin, Hui Yao, Lan-Wei Cui, Xing Shi, Yu Yang, Lin-Qi Chen, Hai-Yan Wei

Hangzhou, China 

Author Affiliations: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China (Fu JF, Liang L); Beijing Children's Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (Gong CX); Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (Xiong F); Children's Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Luo FH); General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China (Liu GL); Children's Hospital of Shanghai, Children's Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China (Li P); Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China (Liu L); Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China (Xin Y); Wuhan Children's Hospital, Wuhan, China (Yao H); The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China (Cui LW); Nanjing Children's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (Shi X); Children's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China (Yang Y); Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (Chen LQ); Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China (Wei HY)

Corresponding Author: Li Liang, MD, Department of Endocrinology of Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Avenue, Hangzhou 310003, China (Tel: 86-571-87061007; Fax: 86-571-87033296; Email: zdliangli@yahoo.com.cn)

doi: 10.1007/s12519-013-0414-4

Background: Childhood diabetes has become a growing concern. We conducted a study to evaluate the status and trend of diabetes from 14 medical centers in China. Pre-diabetic status among obese children was also noted.

Methods: Hospital medical records were reviewed, and data of diabetes were collected from 1995 through 2010. We took every five years as a calculation unit to analyze the trend of new-onset diabetes. Data on obesity were collected in the recent five years.

Results: A total of 4 337 836 patients aged 0-18 years were discharged from the 14 centers. The prevalence (per 100 000 persons) of new-onset type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and other types of diabetes were 96.8, 8.0, and 3.3, respectively. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes increased from 90.9 to 92.9 and 101.4, while type 2 diabetes increased from 4.1 to 7.1 and 10.0 in every five years (P<0.0001). The increasing trend was significant from Southwest to East and North China (type 1 diabetes from 59.76 to 80.02 and 120.45, type 2 diabetes from 2.52 to 3.77 and 15.64 (per 100 000 persons) (all P<0.0001). Well developed areas in China had a higher prevalence compared to less developed areas [type 1 diabetes: 151.51 vs. 32.2 (per 100 000 persons); type 2 diabetes: 15.16 vs. 1.64 and others: 7.54 vs. 0.42 (per 100 000 persons)]. Of the 3153 obese children, 18.24% had impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 5.99% had impaired gulose tolerance (IGT), and 4% had combined IFG and IGT.

Conclusions: The prevalence of childhood diabetes in China has increased dramatically, with type 2 diabetes exceeding type 1 diabetes. The incidence rate of abnormal glucose metabolism in obese children has reached 28.26%.

Key words: diabetes mellitus; obesity; prediabetic status

World J Pediatr 2013;9(2):127-134