A new UK study has revealed an excessive risk of hospitalisation in children with type 1 diabetes.
Investigators from Cardiff University, Swansea University, the University of Bristol, Bangor University and University Hospital of Wales compared 1577 Welsh children with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 7800 age-, gender- and social deprivation-matched children from the general population. The former were found to have a 480% increased risk of hospital admission (incidence rate ratio, 5.789; P<0.001).
The absolute risk was highest in the youngest age group (age, <5 years), and there was a 15% reduction in risk for every 5-year increase in age at diabetes diagnosis. Children receiving diabetes care in large outpatient centres also had a 15% reduction in risk compared with those who were treated in small centres. Boys and girls were at equal risk, and there was a trend towards increased admission rates in children with lower socioeconomic status.
Professor John Gregory, a specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology at Cardiff University, said: “Our research shows that children with diabetes are at an unacceptably increased risk of being admitted to hospital. Based on this evidence, clinical services need to look at ways of supporting the care of those most at risk: the very young and those from poorer backgrounds.
“Given the increased risk of admission of patients cared for in smaller outpatient clinics, we also need to examine working practices, especially out-of-hours services, to see if there are better ways to deliver care in a way that avoids the need for admission to hospital.”
The study can be read in full at BMJ Open here.
