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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the geographic distribution of the incidence of diabetes mellitus type I (DMI) in Catalonia from 1987-1990.The base of the study is the Catalonian registry of incidence of DMI in the period from 1987-1990. The definition criteria were: diagnostic criteria of diabetes (WHO norms 1985), age of diagnosis under 30 years, residence in Catalonia in the period of diagnosis and exclusion of other types of diabetes. The population at risk was estimated according to the general census of the population of 1986. The total incidence of Catalonia was calculated by provinces and counties according to the Poisson distribution.The incidence of DMI observed in Catalonia was of 11.5/100,000 inhabitants per year (CI 95%, 10.6-12.4) in the age group from 0-14 years and 10.7/100,000 inhabitants per year (CI 95% 10.1-11.3) in the age group from 0-29 years. The exhaustivity in the detection of the cases was of 90.3%. No differences were found in interprovincial incidence in the 0-14 age group: Barcelona 11.6 (10.6-12.7), Girona 10.2 (7.2-13.4), Lleida 11.7 (7.7-15.8), Tarragona 10.5 (7.6-13.5). In the 15-29 age group a lower incidence was observed in Tarragona. The incidence by counties varied between 2.9 and 15.0/100,000 inhabitants per year with those of greatest incidence being observed in the Vallés Oriental (15.0/100,000 inhabitants/years), Alt Penedés (14.5/100,000 inhabitants/year), Segrià (15.0/100,000 inhabitants/year) and the Priorat (13.7/100,000 inhabitants/year).No differences were found in the incidence of diabetes mellitus type I in the four Catalonian provinces. Distribution by counties was more heterogeneous without defining zones with a much higher incidence to that observed in the whole of Catalonia.

Trends of fat and fat-containing food consumption in Spain are analysed; information was obtained from data collected at two different levels: household and individual. Three major household budget surveys conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 1964, 1980-1981, and 1990-1991 show the trends of food and fat consumption in Spain; we can observe a decrease in cereals, potatoes and pulses and an increase in dairy products and meat, similar to that observed in other countries. According to these studies, the consumption of fat and saturated fat and the other vegetable oils have increased, while olive oil intake has decreased. Food and fat consumption in Spain presents a large variation between the Spanish regions. Six individual dietary studies conducted among adult free-living populations are reviewed; intakes of fat ranged from 90 to 110 g/person/day, and percentage of total energy from saturated fat from 12 to 15%. The rise in fat intake in Spain urges dietary interventions.

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of diabetes, of which there are few epidemiological data in Spain. The aim of this study is to determine diabetic nephropathy prevalence in a group of patients with type I diabetes mellitus, representative of the population of Barcelona, Spain, evaluating several risk factors related with its development.639 patients (296 males and 343 women), from 6 hospitals, selected according with the diabetes duration (194 between 5 and 9 years [group I], 227 between 10 and 19 years [group II] and 218 with 20 years or more [group III]) were studied. In all patients urinary albumin excretion and plasma levels of creatinine, HbA1c, cholesterol and triglycerides were determined. The presence of retinopathy, neuropathy, vasculopathy and tobacco consumption were also evaluated.The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy increased with longer diabetes duration (8.1% [CI: 4.3-11.9] in group I, 24.7% [CI: 19.1-30.3] in group II and 44.7% [CI: 38.1-51.3] in group III), as well as that of hypertension, diabetes complications, cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels. Related to people with normal renal function, after logistic regression, microalbuminuria was associated with hypertension and longer diabetes duration. Clinical nephropathy (macroalbuminuria + renal failure) to hypertension, longer duration, hypertriglyceridemia, male sex and tobacco consumption.The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in Barcelona area is high and similar to that observed in other european regions. Its existence is associated with other diabetic complications. In addition to the classic risk factors, tobacco consumption must also be considered as a factor for diabetic nephropathy.

It is well known that smoking and some nutritional habits are two of the most important risk factors for the development of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to assess the food and nutrient consumption in relation to smoking in the Catalan population, Spain.A representative sample of the Catalan population of 1774 people aged 18 to 64 years from both sexes. Nutritional status was evaluated using selected anthropometrical indexes, and food consumption with two 24-hour recall. Questionnaires about smoking consumption and a semiquantitative frequency questionnaire about alcohol consumption were also administered.Male non smokers consumed more dairy products than smokers, and more fruits and nuts than smokers and ex-smokers. Female non-smokers consumed more chicken, fruits and less sweets than smokers and ex-smokers. In both genders, smokers consumed more alcohol. With respect to nutrients, smokers consumed less fiber than non smokers and more energy from lipids and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.The diet of smokers is less healthy than that of non smokers and ex-smokers, which indicates a higher risk for the incidence of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.