ABSTRACT
Introduction: In Paediatrics, there was a significant reduction and delays in patients presenting to the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic (1,2). Diabetes Service provision was affected during the pandemic with a move towards virtual clinics and fewer face to face appointments. We studied the nature and severity of presentation of TIDM, the impact of the pandemic on diabetes control in newly diagnosed TIDM patients. Objectives: To evaluate presentation at diagnosis and effect on subsequent diabetes control due to COVID 19 pandemic's impact on health care provision. Methods: This retrospective study involved case notes review of 65 newly diagnosed T1DM patients up to the age of 16 years over two years (March 2019 to March 2020: Pre-pandemic cohort, March 2020 to March 2021: Pandemic cohort). Results: The percentage of patients presenting in severe diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was higher in the pandemic year by 10%. The data showed no differences between the two groups regarding mean age at presentation, antibody status, vitamin D level at the diagnosis and frequency of diabetes-related hospital attendances. In contrast, in the pandemic group, 12% (3) newly diagnosed patients spent more than 72 hours during their first diabetes-related admission compared to 5% (2) in the pre-pandemic year. Interestingly, the HbA1C control over one year period was similar in the pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts (figure 1). Conclusions: Our study suggests that during the pandemic year, more patients presented with severe DKA, higher HbA1C and had a longer length of stay in the hospital during the initial admission. A longitudinal review of HbA1C level over one year suggests that the diabetes control was not adversely affected during the pandemic. (Table Presented).