3081.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - 3:35 PM

Abstract #13477

Risk Factors and Characterization of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in American Indian Children and adolescents

Boureima Hama Sambo, MD, MPH1, Elisa T. Lee, PhD2, June E. Eichner, PhD1, Lorraine Halinka Malcoe, PhD3, and Bernadine Tolbert, MD, PhD4. (1) Native American Prevention Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, COPH Rm. 100, P.O.Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (405) 271-3090 X46713, boureima-sambo@ouhsc.edu, (2) Dean, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, COPH Rm.100, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (3) Coordinator, Epidemiology concentration, UNM Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, 2400 Tucker NE, FPC 149, Albuquerque, NM 87131, (4) Acting Chief Medical Officer, Diabetes Control Officer OCA-IHS, Oklahoma City Area (OCA) Indian Health Service (IHS), Oklahoma City, OK

Within the last decade, the prevalence and incidence of Type 2 DM has increased significantly in children and adolescents. This increase has been even more marked among American Indian children and adolescents. However, to date, few published studies have evaluated clinical characteristics or risk factors for Type 2 DM in American Indian youth, and none has focused on more than one tribe. Furthermore, this sparse clinical knowledge makes the diagnosis of Type 2 DM in children more problematic than in adults.

More than 300 cases and controls were examined from several tribes in Oklahoma. Cases of diabetes among Oklahoma Indian youth were identified through the tribal clinical network in Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service (OCA-IHS). Controls, frequency-matched by age to cases, were randomly selected from the same IHS and tribal facilities as the cases. This paper will present the findings of: i) a descriptive study that examined clinical and demographic characteristics of American Indian children and adolescents diagnosed with Type 2 DM, and ii) a case-control study to identify risk factors for early onset Type 2 DM in American Indian youth (examining the effects of maternal, early childhood characteristics and other birth-related factors, on the early onset of Type 2 DM).

Our findings, which provide information on clinical characteristics and predictors of Type 2 DM in American Indian youth, will also help to facilitate appropriate diagnosis of the disease and the design of effective prevention, management, and intervention programs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to: 1) Describe and characterize Type 2 DM in American Indian children and adolescents. 2) Identify risk factors for Type 2 DM in American Indian children and adolescents. 3) facilitate development of effective prevention, management and intervention programs to reduce the prevalence and incidence of Type 2 DM in American Indian children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA