An Investigation of the Effect of Latitude on the Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Background: Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among various age groups, and geographic locations around the globe. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of latitude on the incidence of type 1 diabetes in light of its high prevalence, which has caused a variety of problems for children and adolescents, and the rise in prevalence of this disease worldwide.

Material and Methods: Using a predetermined search strategy, the ISI, Pubmed, Proquest, and Willey databases were combed for all epidemiological studies conducted in Iran and the rest of the world up until 2023. Following the search, 871 articles were located. After removing duplicates and screening the title, abstract, and main text, 200 articles were extracted, and finally 15 articles were selected for the study.

Results: Studies published up to 2022 were looked at, and it was found that there is a positive correlation between type 1 diabetes and increasing latitude. It means that the number of people with diabetes goes up the farther away from the equator you are.

Conclusion: Given that geographic and environmental factors play a significant role in the etiology of diseases, it can be beneficial for research if decision-makers in the health and sanitation sectors pay attention to these factors. Additionally, planning in the health and sanitation sector can be done for each region following the climatic, environmental, geological, etc. conditions of that region.