Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective

Maciej Szabłowski; Paweł Klimas; Natalia Wiktorzak; Michał Okruszko; Joanna Peczyńska; Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska; Hanna Borysewicz-Sańczyk; Agnieszka Polkowska; Aneta Zasim; Klaudyna Noiszewska; Artur Bossowski; Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska

doi:10.5114/pedm.2025.149201

Abstract

1/2025 vol. 31

Original paper

Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective

Maciej Szabłowski ^{1, 2, 3}

,

Paweł Klimas ³

,

Natalia Wiktorzak ³

,

Michał Okruszko ³

,

Joanna Peczyńska ³

,

Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska ³

,

Hanna Borysewicz-Sańczyk ³

,

Agnieszka Polkowska

,

Aneta Zasim ³

,

Klaudyna Noiszewska ³

,

Artur Bossowski ³

,

Barbara Głowińska-Olszewska ³

Clinical Research Centre, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Division, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland

Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2025; 31: 9-16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2025.149201

Online publish date: 2025/04/03

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AMA

Szabłowski M, Klimas P, Wiktorzak N, et al. Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism. 2025;31(1):9-16. doi:10.5114/pedm.2025.149201.

APA

Szabłowski, M., Klimas, P., Wiktorzak, N., Okruszko, M., Peczyńska, J., & Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska, M. et al. (2025). Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, 31(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2025.149201

Chicago

Szabłowski, Maciej, Paweł Klimas, Natalia Wiktorzak, Michał Okruszko, Joanna Peczyńska, Milena Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska, and Hanna Borysewicz-Sańczyk et al. 2025. "Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective". Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism 31 (1): 9-16. doi:10.5114/pedm.2025.149201.

Harvard

Szabłowski, M., Klimas, P., Wiktorzak, N., Okruszko, M., Peczyńska, J., Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska, M., Borysewicz-Sańczyk, H., Polkowska, A., Zasim, A., Noiszewska, K., Bossowski, A., and Głowińska-Olszewska, B. (2025). Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, 31(1), pp.9-16. https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2025.149201

MLA

Szabłowski, Maciej et al. "Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective." Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, vol. 31, no. 1, 2025, pp. 9-16. doi:10.5114/pedm.2025.149201.

Vancouver

Szabłowski M, Klimas P, Wiktorzak N, Okruszko M, Peczyńska J, Jamiołkowska-Sztabkowska M et al. Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Podlasie region, Poland, in years 2010–2022 – 13-years-single-center study, including COVID-19 pandemic perspective. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism. 2025;31(1):9-16. doi:10.5114/pedm.2025.149201.

Introduction

Diabetes is undeniably a pandemic of the 21st century. Although type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) only represents 10% of all diabetes cases, it dominates the pediatric population. The number of T1DM cases is accelerating, and Poland is one of the countries with the fastest increase in incidence.

Aim of the study

To evaluate the epidemiological situation in T1DM in Podlaskie region, Poland.

Material and methods

The study included 777 patients (369 girls and 408 boys) under 18. Incidence rates were calculated and standardized to an age-matched population (general population of Poland 2010).

Results

We showed an upward trend in the number of cases during the analyzed period (R2 = 0.6, p = 0.001). The average incidence rate grew during the study period from 19.22/100,000 in 2010 to 34.11/100,000 in 2022, a 1.77-fold increase over the study period. The youngest age group (0–4 years old) showed the most prominent, nearly 2.3-fold rise, from 9.86/100,000 in 2010 to 22.56/100,000 in 2022. We have also demonstrated the possible impact of the COVID pandemic – after a decrease in 2020 we observed an increase of the incidence rate in 2021 up to 38.05/100,000 and in 2022 to 34/100,000.

Conclusions

The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland, continues its upward trend. Various factors may influence this, but the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is worth considering.

Keywords

Poland, epidemiology, COVID-19, diabetes mellitus type 1, Podlasie region

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