Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Type 1 Diabetes Outcomes

ABSTRACT

As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted daily life, it is important to understand its effects on youth with T1D. The COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS) was used to examine COVID-19 effects on diabetes metrics in a pediatric T1D population. Parents of youth with T1D (n=108;mean age 11.6±4 yrs, mean T1D duration 5.3±3.9yrs, 57.4% male) completed the CEFIS (score ranges Exposure 0-25, Impact 0-4 with >2.5 indicating negative impact, and Distress 1-10) . CEFIS measures and diabetes metrics (A1c, average glucose, in-person visits vs. telemedicine, and number of cancelled visits) were obtained at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Changes in diabetes metrics and correlations with CEFIS scores were analyzed by anova. Cancelled visit frequency per person decreased from baseline to 3 months and was maintained for the duration of the study (p<0.001) . For every one point increase in CEFIS Impact, A1c increased by 0.3 (0.1%) (p=0.04) . For every one point increase in CEFIS Exposure, average glucose increased by 2.3 (0.7mg/dL) (p=0.002) . High perceived stress from the COVID-19 pandemic from CEFIS Impact and Exposure scores may worsen glycemic outcomes for youth, suggesting that the pandemic had a negative affect regardless of COVID-19 infection. Further studies on perceived stress and effects on diabetes management are needed to determine long term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population.