National data showed an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among four-year-old Swedish children during the first year of COVID-19.

AIM: This paper summarised national data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 4-year-old children in Sweden in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It compares this with data from 2018. Differences between regions and sex were identified. METHODS: Comparative data from Swedish Child Health Services were available for 18/21 regions. Chi-square tests were used to compare data from 2018 and 2020 and to examine differences between the sexes. Sex and year were examined through interaction tests. RESULTS: In 2020, 13.3% of the 100 001 children had overweight or obesity: 15.1% of the girls and 11.6% of the boys (p < 0.001). In 2018, 11.4% of the 105 445 children had overweight or obesity: 13.2% of the girls and 9.4% of the boys. This was an overall increase of 16.6% (p = 0.000) in the national Swedish data from 2018 to 2020. The increase between the years was greater for obesity (31.8%, p = 0.000) than for overweight (13.3%, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among 4-year-olds in Sweden increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and needs to be addressed. The prevalence needs to be followed as part of prevention programmes and to evaluate health interventions.

[High levels of overweight and obesity in four year olds in Sweden]. / Övervikt och fetma kvar på höga nivåer bland 4-åringar i Sverige.

Childhood obesity is an increasing global health problem. Prevention and early treatment is crucial. The Swedish child health care targets almost all children and iso-BMI is assessed from the age of two. National reports on the prevalence of obesity are scarce. In this report data from the Swedish child health care on 105 445 four year olds was collected. Overweight (9 %) and obesity (2 %) was registered in 11 % of the children, which is in line with earlier, smaller, reports. More girls than boys were overweight or obese.  To improve the situation, the problem needs to be addressed by the entire society. Further evidence-based methods on prevention and early treatment need to be established. The Swedish child health care registry will enable follow-up on prevalence data.

Self- and parent-reported executive problems in adolescents with type 1 diabetes are associated with poor metabolic control and low physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Management of diabetes is demanding and requires efficient cognitive skills, especially in the domain of executive functioning. However, the impact of impaired executive functions on diabetes control has been studied to a limited extent. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between executive problems and diabetes control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-one of 477 (51%) of 12- to 18-year-old adolescents, with a diabetes duration of >2 years in Stockholm, Uppsala, and Jönköping participated. Parents and adolescents completed questionnaires, including Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) and demographic background factors. Diabetes-related data were collected from the Swedish Childhood Diabetes Registry, SWEDIABKIDS. Self-rated and parent-rated executive problems were analyzed with regard to gender, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), frequency of outpatient visits, and physical activity, using chi-square tests or Fisher's test, where P-values <.05 were considered significant. Furthermore, adjusted logistic regressions were performed with executive problems as independent variable. RESULTS: Executive problems, according to BRIEF and/or ADHD-RS were for both genders associated with mean HbA1c >70 mmol/mol (patient rating P = .000, parent rating P = .017), a large number of outpatient visits (parent rating P = .015), and low physical activity (patient rating P = .000, parent rating P = .025). Self-rated executive problems were more prevalent in girls (P = .032), while parents reported these problems to a larger extent in boys (P = .028). CONCLUSION: Executive problems are related to poor metabolic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Patients with executive problems need to be recognized by the diabetes team and the diabetes care should be organized to provide adequate support for these patients.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder require specific support from healthcare professionals.

AIM: Managing type 1 diabetes mellitus requires efficient cognitive and executive skills, and adolescents who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may face specific challenges. This study explored young people's experiences of diabetes treatment and care. METHOD: In a population-based study, comprising 175 patients aged 5-16 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus in two Swedish counties, we found that eight also met criteria for ADHD. Six of these, aged 14.5-16 years, participated 2013-2014 in interviews that targeted aspects of their diabetes treatment. Conducted by two psychologists, these used the inductive qualitative, semi-structured interview format. RESULTS: The two boys and four girls all reported difficulties in creating routines for their diabetes treatment and that problems were aggravated during stress. They had been criticised by their parents and the diabetes team when their blood levels indicated inadequate diabetes control. They requested ongoing information, involvement of their friends, group meetings and easy access to the healthcare system during difficult times. CONCLUSION: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and concomitant ADHD faced problems with their diabetes management, especially during stressful situations. Diabetes care provision should pay particular attention to patients with co-existing neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD.

Chronic conditions and coexisting ADHD-a complicated combination in adolescents.

Adolescents with chronic conditions (CCs) take more health risks than peers. However, coexisting ADHD has not sufficiently been considered. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of different CCs on protective factors and health-risk behaviors, taking coexisting ADHD into account. A school-based study among 6895 15- and 17-year-old students was performed in the county of Sörmland, Sweden in 2011 (response rate 80 %). The questionnaire explored background factors, CCs, protective factors, and health-risk behaviors. CCs were reported by 11 %, while 55 % were healthy. Students with CCs more often reported coexisting ADHD than healthy students. In adolescents with neurological conditions, the odds ratio for having ADHD was 7.34 (95 % CI 3.00-17.99) as compared to healthy peers. Few protective factors (<4) and clustered health-risk behaviors (≥4) were more common among students with CCs, especially if ADHD or a combination including ADHD was reported. CONCLUSION: CCs and coexisting ADHD are associated with few protective factors and clustered-health risk behaviors. Adolescents with ADHD-in addition to a chronic condition-should be specially acknowledged by health care professionals in order to prevent health risk behaviors. ADHD should be considered when studying these outcomes in adolescents. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Youth with chronic conditions (CCs)-especially ADHD-are reported to take more health risks than peers. • In earlier studies of youth with CCs, the presence of coexisting ADHD has not been taken into account. WHAT IS NEW: • In this study, we showed that ADHD was more prevalent among adolescents with different types of CCs. • CCs and coexisting ADHD were associated with few protective factors and clustered health-risk behaviors.

The triply troubled teenager--chronic conditions associated with fewer protective factors and clustered risk behaviours.

AIM: This study aimed to measure protective factors and risk behaviour among adolescents with chronic conditions (CCs) and to evaluate the impact of protective factors on risk-taking. METHODS: A population-based study of 7262 students aged 15 and 17 years old was performed in Sörmland, Sweden 2008 (response rate 82%). The questionnaire explored background factors, CCs, risk behaviours and protective factors. CCs were reported by 8%, while 58% had no health problems. RESULTS: Girls with CCs encompassed less individual protective factors, while boys with CCs tended to over-report all individual risk behaviours compared with healthy peers. Both boys and girls with CCs were more likely to report few protective factors and co-occurrence of risk behaviours. The adjOR for clustered health risk behaviours was 1.6 (1.0-2.5) in youths with CCs and ≥4 protective factors and 6.3 (3.6-10.9) in youths with CCs and 0-3 protective factors, as compared to healthy peers with ≥4 protective factors. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with CCs reported fewer protective factors and more risk behaviours than their healthy peers. The vulnerability of adolescents with CCs and few protective factors is important to acknowledge. Professionals should provide stronger protection for these adolescents, to prevent risky behaviour.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and high HbA1c -- a neurodevelopmental perspective.

AIM: To examine the association between neurodevelopmental problems and high HbA1c among paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A population-based study was performed among patients with type 1 diabetes (5-16 years) in two Swedish counties (n = 233). The Five to Fifteen (FTF) questionnaire targeted neurodevelopmental qualities. Scores above the 90th percentile in the various domains are considered as definitive problems and scores above the 75th percentile as mild. FTF scores were compared with regard to HbA1c ≤73 mmol/mol and >73 mmol/mol (8.0%). RESULTS: The response rate was 190 (82%). Neurodevelopmental problems were not overrepresented among patients in general. Memory and learning problems were associated with HbA1c >73 mmol/mol (p = 0.01). This correlation was especially seen in adolescents (12-16 years) where mild executive problems (adjOR 3.1), definite memory problems (adjOR 5.0) and definite learning problems (adjOR 5.0) were associated with HbA1c >73 mmol/mol after adjustment for gender, diabetes duration and age of onset. CONCLUSION: Our findings that high HbA1c is more common in adolescent diabetes patients with neurodevelopmental problems generate the hypothesis that these problems might precede poor metabolic control. If so, early detection of neurodevelopmental problems would allow individually tailored treatment that may improve metabolic control and prevent complications.