Autoimmune disease prevalence in Ethiopian versus Non-Ethiopian type 1 diabetes patients in Israel

The prevalence of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) in Ethiopian patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is mainly unknown. This study aimed to determine the co-occurrence of AIDs in T1D Ethiopian patients and to compare their prevalence to non-Ethiopian Israeli patients. A retrospective cohort analysis of 12,759 T1D patients, of whom 672 (5.3%) were of Ethiopian descent, aged ≥ 18 years, registered in the Clalit Health Services database was conducted. The AID cases were identified by ICD-10 codes from 2000 to 2023. Additionally, data on thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) and tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies were extracted and analyzed. The mean age of the entire cohort was 30.4 ± 18.9 years, 54% were male, and the mean follow-up was 10.9 ± 6.1 years. An additional AID was diagnosed among 14% of the Ethiopian and 26% of the non-Ethiopian populations (p < 0.001), respectively. Although the prevalence of coexisting autoimmune conditions was approximately half in the Ethiopian group, the relative distribution pattern of common and less common AIDs remained similar to that observed in the non-Ethiopian population. The prevalence of AIDs in Ethiopians is lower than in non-Ethiopian patients with T1D, indicating the existence of ethnic differences in susceptibility to AIDs. Nevertheless, the low screening rates highlight the need for greater vigilance and adherence to guidelines by medical staff.