Why carry out the study?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic revealed the vulnerability of specific population groups in relation to susceptibility to acute deterioration in their health including hospital admission and mortality. There is less data on outcomes for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

What was learned from this study?

A significantly higher proportion of people living with T1D (10.7%) versus people living without diabetes (3.9%) were admitted to hospital following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In combined analysis, including people living with T1D and people living without diabetes, multiple regression modelling indicated that the factors independently relating to a higher likelihood of hospital admission were: having T1D, social deprivation (higher Townsend deprivation score), low estimated glomerular filtration rate value, non-white ethnicity and having asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe mental illness or hypertension.

In this all-England study, we describe that, following confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2, the risk factors for hospital admission for people living with T1D are similar to the general population, although people living with T1D were more likely to be admitted to hospital.

We suggest that the younger age of people living with T1D in relation to risk stratification should be taken into account in any ongoing risk reduction strategies regarding COVID-19/future viral pandemics.