ESPE Abstracts

Background: Diabetes prevalence is increasing globally, and Azerbaijan is no exception. Poorly controlled diabetes is associated with increased long-term micro-vascular and macro-vascular complication risk, leading to an increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective and hypotheses: The purpose of this study was to estimate incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among children aged 0–18 years and to assess growth, glycaemic control, complications, risk factors and mortality associated diabetes mellitus, based on prospective registration of patients in National Diabetes Registry during the period 1997–2007 in the Azerbaijan Republic.

Method: We performed a comparative clinic-based study of 1194 patients with diabetes from over the country. Retinopathy was assessed by seven-field stereoscopic retinal photography; albumin excretion rate from three consecutive, timed, overnight urine collections; peripheral neuropathy by thermal and vibration threshold. HbA1c and lipids were measured in all patients.

Results: Complications were determined in subgroups serving as cohorts by screening tests and based on physicians’ report. There were 1194 patients (550 boys and 644 girls) registered during the period 1997–2007. The overall incidence/prevalence of T1DM (per 100 000 persons) was 3.5 (0.32/10(5)/year). Incidence was increasing from 3.5 to 11.5% during the period 1997–2007. On cross-sectional analysis of different cohorts, 65% were below 50th percentile height, 85% were <50th percentile of weight. 12.5% patients had poor glycaemic control (HbA1c >9%). The prevalence of different complications were as follows: neuropathy 18.9%, retinopathy 1.2%, nephropathy 1.3%, and diabetic cataract 1.3%. The percentage of patient with micro-albuminuria, high sensitive C-reactive protein was 29.6 and 44.4% respectively. Poor glycaemic control, hypertension, and duration were strong consistent predictors of all complications. Eleven patients died during the period of which ten deaths were related to diabetes.

Conclusion: Though the incidence of diabetes in the children is low in our population compared to the western population, the burden of diabetes is high due to large population in our country.