Family history and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus

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 analyses we used χ2-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=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).