To determine the descriptive epidemiological patterns of the secondary attack rate of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) among siblings of probands through older ages.
A family history analysis was performed on 1774 IDDM probands who were diagnosed or seen within 1 yr of diagnosis at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh from 1 January 1950 through 31 December 1981. The probands were discharged on insulin and were diagnosed at <17 yr of age. The time frame permitted the risk of IDDM for siblings of probands to be calculated over a broad spectrum of age.
Risk estimates for the 3966 full natural siblings through 10, 20, and 30 yr of age were 1.6, 4.1, and 6.3%, respectively. Secondary attack rates were equivalent for male and female siblings through 15 yr of age (3%); however, the risk to males increased an additional 4% between 16 and 30 yr of age compared with 2.5% for females (P = 0.01). There was no evidence of an excess sex concordance among affected sibling pairs.
Males have a greater secondary attack rate of IDDM at older ages than females. This may be due to an increased exposure to environmental agents among males or protective influences operating among females.
