Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Children is Not Increased after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Nationwide Prospective Study in Denmark (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Objective It has been hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 infection in children can increase risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Research Design and Methods We undertook a prospective analysis based on all children in Denmark where we investigated the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent risk of type 1 diabetes, using information from several different national Danish registers. Denmark had one of the highest test-rates per capita in the world during the pandemic. Results We did not observe a higher risk of a first time diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children 30 days or more after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, compared to children with a history of only negative SARS-CoV-2 tests (Hazard ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.70, 1.04). Conclusions Our data do not support that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with type 1 diabetes, or that type 1 diabetes should be a special focus after a SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.