Increase in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes among pediatric and adolescent patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: A multi-center analysis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: An increase in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been posited during the COVID-19 pandemic, but data have been conflicting. Objectives: We aimed to determine trends in newly diagnosed T1D and severity of presentation at diagnosis for pediatric and adolescent patients during COVID-19 year (2020) as compared to the previous year (2019) in a multi-center data analysis across the United States. Methods: This retrospective multi-center study included data from seven large U.S. clinical centers recruited from the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI). Data on diagnosis, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and clinical characteristics were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2020, compared to the prior year. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in patient characteristics during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic comparison group. Results: Across seven member sites, there were 1399 newly diagnosed patients with T1D in 2020, compared to 1277 in 2019 (p=0.007). Of the newly diagnosed patients, a greater number, presented in DKA in 2020 compared to 2019 (599/1399 (42.8%) v. 493/1277 (38.6%), p<0.001), and a higher proportion of these patients presented with severe DKA (p=0.01) as characterized by a pH<7.1 or bicarbonate of <5mmol/L. The mean age at diagnosis was not different, but there were fewer females (p=0.004), and fewer NH White youth diagnosed in 2020 (p<0.001). Newly diagnosed T1D patients in 2020 were less likely to have private insurance (p=0.001). Monthly data trends demonstrated a higher number of new diagnoses of T1D over the spring and summer months (April to September) of 2020 compared to 2019 (p=0.007). Conclusions: We found an increase in newly diagnosed T1D and a greater proportion of newly diagnosed T1D patients presenting in DKA at diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior year. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings with population level data and determine the long-term impact of COVID-19 on diabetes trends.