Disrupted Pediatric Diabetes Trends in the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Context: Increases in incident cases of pediatric type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) were observed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This work aimed to identify trends in incidence and presentation of pediatric new-onset T1D and T2D during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted. Demographics, anthropometrics, and initial laboratory results from patients aged 0 to 21 years who presented with new-onset diabetes to a pediatric tertiary care center were recorded. Results: The incident cases of T1D (n = 46) and T2D (n = 46) in 2021-2022 (second year of the pandemic) were consistent with the incident cases of T1D (n = 46) and T2D (n = 53) in 2020 to 2021 (first year of the pandemic). Compared to the incident cases of diabetes in the prepandemic years, in the second year, the incident cases of T1D increased 48%, and the incident cases of T2D increased 188%. In the second year of the pandemic, incident cases of T2D represented half (50%) of all newly diagnosed pediatric diabetes cases. Patients with T2D were more likely to present in diabetic ketoacidosis, though this was not statistically significant (P = .08). Conclusion: The increase in incident cases of pediatric T1D and T2D observed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic persisted during the second pandemic year. This suggests that despite pediatric vaccination efforts and return to social in-person activities, we may continue to see effects of the pandemic on pediatric diabetes trends.

Duke Scholars

Author Robert Walker Benjamin Pediatrics, Endocrinology