Seasonality of Birth and Onset of Clinical Disease in Children and Adolescents (0-19 Years) with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

The month of birth pattern of the patients with DM showed a statistically significant peak (p < 0.01) in summer, whereas the disease onset had a significant peak in winter (p < 0.01), similar to that registered in countries of the northern hemisphere, but in different months of the year. The total live births had no significant rhythm. The different seasonality of birth of the children who subsequently developed type 1 DM from that of the total live births is suggestive of the initiation of the autoimmune process in utero or perinatally.