Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research

en Risk Factors Associated with Early-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children Under Five Years: A Cross-Sectional Study in Yazd, Iran Clinical Medicine Clinical Medicine مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article Background & Objective:  Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common autoimmune disease in children. Recent trends show a decreasing age at onset, raising concerns about contributing factors. This study aimed to identify factors associated with early‑onset T1DM in children under five years of age in Yazd, Iran.  Materials & Methods:  This cross-sectional study analyzed 108 newly diagnosed T1DM patients registered with the Iran Rare Diseases Foundation between March 2020 and March 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on age at diagnosis:  ≤5 years and >5 years. Data on family history, pregnancy-related, neonatal, and early childhood factors were collected via standardized checklists and parental interviews. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed to evaluate factors associated with early-onset T1DM. Results:  Of the participants, 22.2% were diagnosed at ≤5 years of age. Maternal infection during pregnancy was significantly more common among early-onset cases (20.8% vs. 4.8%, p=0.025), increasing the odds of early-onset T1DM by 5.26 times. Introduction of cow’s milk at or after one year of age showed a protective effect against early-onset T1DM (OR= 0.07, p=0.027). No other factors were significantly associated with early-onset T1DM. Conclusion:  Maternal infections during pregnancy and early introduction of cow’s milk are important factors associated with early-onset T1DM in children under five years of age. These findings highlight the potential role of prenatal and nutritional factors in the development of early-onset T1DM and emphasize the need for targeted prevention strategies.   Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Risk factors, Childhood 175 183 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7419-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nasim Namiranian 5200319475328460090095 5200319475328460090095 No Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Naserali Mirhosseini 5200319475328460090096 5200319475328460090096 No Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Zohre Foroozanfar 5200319475328460090097 5200319475328460090097 No Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Arefe Khaki 5200319475328460090098 5200319475328460090098 No Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Hassan ali Mahmoudi Kohani a.mahmoodi2008@gmail.com 5200319475328460090099 5200319475328460090099 No Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Nastaran Injinari nastaraninjinari@gmail.com 5200319475328460090100 5200319475328460090100 Yes Diabetes Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran