Pediatric patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes have a 10 times greater risk of complications and death from COVID-19 compared with children whose diabetes is well controlled, according to new research.
Pediatric patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a 10 times greater risk of complications and death from COVID-19 compared with children whose diabetes is well controlled, according to new research. Study results will be presented at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, taking place from March 20-23, 2021.
Data also showed mortality rate, endotracheal tube use, and risks of pneumonia and septic shock were increased in children with T1D and COVID-19 compared with children who only had COVID-19.
Although some data have been published linking T1D in adults with higher COVID-19 risks, limited data have been made available for pediatric populations with T1D and COVID-19.
Using TriNetX, the researchers gleaned real-time electronic medical records data from 54 health care organizations. Approximately 2000 children (aged 0 months-18 years) with T1D and COVID-19 and more than 300,000 children with COVID-19 without diabetes were included in the study.
Poor diabetes was defined as glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels higher than 9%, while A1C at 7% or less was considered well-controlled diabetes. Data showed that among children with A1C levels higher than 9%, the risk of COVID-19 complications was 10 times higher compared with those with A1C under 7%. Relative risk of mortality for children with COVID-19 and T1D was 6.05 (P < .0001).
Additional findings included:
"This study shows keeping diabetic children's blood sugar under control is more important than ever during the pandemic," said author Manish Raisingani, MD. "The findings will help children with T1D and their families make better choices about the safety of attending school in person and engaging in other in-person activities during this pandemic."
Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to better understand the complication rates of COVID-19 and T1D in this population.
“Many parents of children with T1D are wondering if it's safe to send their child to school during the pandemic," Raisingani continued. "Our findings indicate that if their A1C is high, it would be best to have them attend virtual school, but if it's 7% or under, their risk is similar to other children without T1D.”
Reference
Raisingani MG. Risk of complications in children with type 1 diabetes and COVID-19. Presented at ENDO 2021; March 20-23, 2021. Abstract OR23-3.
Study Shows Higher Infection Risk in Patients With T1D in Primary, Secondary Care
November 22nd 2023Researchers concluded there is a clinically important increase in infection risk among patients with T1D in both primary care and hospital settings, and that guidelines must be developed to reflect this risk and encourage earlier treatment.
Read More
Recent T1D Research Contradicts Common Assumptions About Patients
November 15th 2023Michael Fang, PhD, researcher and assistant professor in the division of Cardiovascular and Clinical Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, discussed recent findings in the type 1 diabetes (T1D) space that may alter the way providers address diabetes diagnoses.
Read More
High BMI Associated With Increased Risk of Type 1 Diabetes
November 10th 2023In a systematic and meta-analysis review of cohort studies that featured nearly 1.7 million individuals, study authors concluded that there is an association between high body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of incident type 1 diabetes.
Read More
Glucose Fluctuation Linked to Slowed Nerve Conduction Velocity in Youth With T1D
November 2nd 2023High glucose variability in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) strongly predicted slowed nerve conduction velocity, a forerunner of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, in a recent study.
Read More