Abstract
Introduction
We aimed to examine the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) rates in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods
A retrospective cross-sectional study of 11 Israeli pediatric emergency departments (ED) was conducted. Children with T1D who attended the ED between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 were compared with those who attended the ED between March 1, 2019 and May 31, 2019.
Results
Overall, 150 and 154 children with T1D attended the EDs during the 3-month study periods in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Among patients with established T1D, DKA rates significantly increased in 2020 compared to 2019 [38/64 (59.3%) vs 31/74 (41.9%); p < 0.043]. There was a non-statistically significant trend toward a higher rate of DKA in patients with newly diagnosed T1D [46/86 (53.4%) vs 31/80 (38.7%); p = 0.063]. No differences were observed in the rates of severe DKA in 2020 compared to 2019 among patients with established T1D [10/64 (15.6%) vs 6/74 (8.1%); p = 0.184], and newly diagnosed T1D [16/86 (18.6%) vs 14/80 (17.5%); p = 0.858]. No differences were observed in the rates of intensive care unit admissions in 2020 compared to 2019 among patients with established T1D [14/64 (21.8%) vs 14/74 (18.9%); p = 0.672], and newly diagnosed T1D [26/86 (30.2%) vs 21/80 (26.2%); p = 0.977].
Conclusions
Increased rates of DKA in children with established T1D were observed during the first 3 months of the outbreak in Israel. The findings suggest that the severity of DKA at ED presentation in children with T1D was not influenced by the pandemic.
Keywords: Coronavirus, Diabetes, Ketoacidosis, Pandemic
Key Summary Points
| Why carry out this study? |
| Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe acute complication of diabetes which occurs more often in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). |
| We examined DKA at emergency department presentation in patients with established and newly diagnosed T1D during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Israel. |
| What was learned from the study? |
| We found that the rates of DKA significantly increased during the pandemic period among patients with established T1D. |
| There was a trend toward higher rates of DKA among patients with newly diagnosed T1D. |
| Since the pandemic is still progressing, it is important to enhance awareness of this phenomenon while simultaneously exploring possible causes. |
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Introduction
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe acute complication of diabetes arising from a relative insulin deficiency, which occurs more often in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and in the setting of moderate to severe illness [1]. Recent studies found an increase in the rates of severe DKA in patients with newly diagnosed T1D during the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic [2–4]. There have been no studies that examined the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on DKA rates in emergency department (ED) patients with established T1D.
We examined DKA at ED presentation in patients with established T1D and newly diagnosed T1D (diagnosis at admission) during the first 3 months of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Israel.
Methods
Study Design
A retrospective cross-sectional study of 11 pediatric EDs was conducted. Children with T1D who attended the ED between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 were compared with those who attended the ED between March 1, 2019 and May 31, 2019.
Participant Selection and Data Source
Only children who were coded as having a diabetes-related presentation as their reason for the visit were included. The following variables were abstracted: age, sex, type of T1D (newly diagnosed, established), presence of DKA, period of admission (pandemic, pre-pandemic), serum pH and bicarbonate levels on admission, and intensive care unit admission. Chart review was conducted in accordance with published methods for retrospective chart review studies in emergency medicine [5]. The study was approved by the institutional review boards of the participating hospitals, and was performed in accordance with the principles embodied in the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was not required because of the retrospective nature of the study. DKA was defined as a pH level < 7.3. Severe DKA was defined as a pH level < 7.1 [6].
Statistical Analysis
Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions between groups. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables. A two-sided p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistics were calculated using StatsDirect statistical software (V.2.6.6, StatsDirect Limited, Cheshire, UK).
Results
Overall, 48,176 and 77,477 patients visited the pediatric EDs during the study periods in 2020 and 2019, respectively. One-hundred and fifty patients with T1D and a median age (interquartile range, IQR) of 12.0 (8.7–14.1) years, and 154 patients with T1D and a median (IQR) age of 12.0 (8.7–15.0) years attended the pediatric EDs during the 2020 and 2019 study periods, respectively.
There were 64 and 74 patients with established T1D in 2020 and 2019, respectively; and 86 and 80 patients with newly diagnosed T1D in 2020, and 2019, respectively (Table 1).
Table 1.
Comparison of patients with newly diagnosed and established type 1 diabetes during the pandemic (March 1–May 31, 2020) and pre-pandemic (March 1–May 31, 2019) periods
| Pandemic period (n = 86) | Pre-pandemic period (n = 80) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes | |||
| Patients with DKAa, n (%) | 46 (53.4) | 31 (38.7) | 0.063 |
| Patients with severe DKAb, n (%) | 16 (18.6) | 14 (17.5) | 0.858 |
| Serum pH level, mean (SD) | 7.24 (0.16) | 7.26 (0.17) | 0.142 |
| Serum bicarbonate level, mmol/L, mean (SD) | 16.3 (7.8) | 18.1 (8.6) | 0.091 |
| Pandemic period (n = 64) | Pre-pandemic period (n = 74) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established type 1 diabetes | |||
| Patients with DKAa, n (%) | 38 (59.3) | 31 (41.9) | 0.043 |
| Patients with severe DKAb, n (%) | 10 (15.6) | 6 (8.1) | 0.184 |
| pH level, mean (SD) | 7.24 (0.13) | 7.29 (0.11) | 0.015 |
| Bicarbonate level, mmol/L, mean (SD) | 16.3 (7.5) | 19.0 (7.7) | 0.041 |
SD standard deviation, DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
aDiabetic ketoacidosis: pH level < 7.3
bSevere diabetic ketoacidosis: pH level < 7.1
Distributions of DKA severity categories (mild, moderate, severe) are shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Rates of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients with newly diagnosed and established type 1 diabetes on emergency department admission during the pandemic (March 1–May 31, 2020) and pre-pandemic (March 1–May 31, 2019) periods. Definitions of DKA severity [6]: DKA, pH level < 7.3; mild DKA, 7.2 < pH level < 7.3; moderate DKA, 7.1 < pH level < 7.2; severe DKA, pH level < 7.1
Among patients with established T1D, the rate of DKA significantly increased in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period [38/64 (59.3%) vs 31/74 (41.9%), p < 0.043], Table 1. There was a non-statistically significant trend toward a higher rate of DKA in patients with newly diagnosed T1D [46/86 (53.4%) vs 31/80 (38.7%), p = 0.063], Table 1.
No differences were observed in the rates of severe DKA in 2020 compared to 2019 among patients with established T1D [10/64 (15.6%) vs 6/74 (8.1%); p = 0.184], and newly diagnosed T1D [16/86 (18.6%) vs 14/80 (17.5%); p = 0.858].
No differences were observed in the rates of intensive care unit admissions in 2020 compared to 2019 among patients with established T1D [14/64 (21.8%) vs 14/74 (18.9%); p = 0.672], and newly diagnosed T1D [26/86 (30.2%) vs 21/80 (26.2%); p = 0.977]. None of the patients died.
Thirteen/86 (15.1%) patients with newly diagnosed T1D visited the ED during the lockdown period (March 17, 2020 to April 17, 2020), 9/13 (69.2%) had DKA at presentation. Thirteen/64 (20.3%) patients with established T1D visited the ED during the lockdown period, 9/13 (69.2%) had DKA at presentation.
Discussion
This study reveals a 37.8% reduction in pediatric ED visits during the first 3 months of the pandemic in Israel. Parents and caregivers’ perception of the ED as a place of infection is maybe the cause of the decrease in ED utilization [7].
The main finding of the current study is the increased rate of DKA in children with established T1D who attended the ED because of a diabetes-related problem during the first 3 months of the pandemic period. The lower serum pH and bicarbonate levels at ED presentation during the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period support this finding (Table 1).
Another important finding is that there were no differences in the rate of severe DKA at ED presentation (Table 1) and in the rate of intensive care unit admissions due to DKA between the two study periods. These findings suggest that the severity of DKA at ED presentation of patients with T1D was not influenced by the pandemic.
Although not statistically significant, there seems to be a trend toward a higher rate of DKA during the pandemic period in patients with newly diagnosed T1D as well (53.4% vs 38.7%, Table 1). This finding was also reported in recent studies from Germany, Italy, and Australia [2–4]. There were no differences in serum pH and bicarbonate levels, rates of severe DKA, and rates of ICU admissions between the two study periods. These findings suggest that children with newly diagnosed T1D were perhaps less influenced by the pandemic.
We found that during lockdown, nearly 70% of patients with the newly diagnosed T1D and nearly 70% of the patients with established T1D presented with DKA; however, the small sample size limits interpretation of these findings and suggests the need for further study.
The current study has some limitations. First, we investigated only the first 3 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our results, therefore, may not apply to the later periods of the pandemic. Second, because of the retrospective cross-sectional design of the study, conclusions of a causal nature cannot be drawn from the results. Third, since DKA prevalence at T1D diagnosis varied across countries, the findings of this study may not be generalizable to other populations [1].
Conclusions
Study findings provide evidence for the increased rates of DKA in children with established T1D during the first months of the pandemic in Israel. The findings suggest that the severity of DKA at ED presentation in children with T1D was not influenced by the pandemic.
Since the pandemic is still progressing, it is important to enhance patient and clinician awareness of this phenomenon while simultaneously exploring possible causes such as delayed ED presentation or suboptimal follow-up care during the pandemic.
Acknowledgements
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The sponsor for the journal’s Rapid Service Fee is Rambam Health Care Campus.
Authorship
All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given their approval for this version to be published.
Authorship Contributions
Dr Jacob designed the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, reviewed the literature, and critically revised the article. Dr Weiser designed the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, reviewed the literature, and critically revised the article. Giora Weiser has equal contribution as first author. Drs Krupik, Takagi, Peled, Pines, Hashavya, Gur-Soferman, Gamsu, Kaplan, Mimon, Oren, and Padeh analyzed and interpreted the data, carried out the initial analysis and critically revised the article. Dr Shavit conceived the idea for the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. Dr Shavit has full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosures
Ron Jacob, Giora Weiser, Danna Krupik, Dania Takagi, Shuny Peled, Naama Pines, Saar Hashavya, Hagar Gur-Soferman, Shirly Gamsu, Or Kaplan, Michal Maimon, Shahar Oren, Gabi Padeh and Itai Shavit declare they have nothing to disclose.
Compliance with Ethics Guidelines
The study was approved by the institutional review boards of all participating hospitals: Rambam Health Care Campus, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Ziv Medical Center, Meir Medical Center, Hadassah Medical Center, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Shamir Medical Center, Soroka Medical Center, Kaplan Medical Center, and Schneider Children's Medical Center. The study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and its later amendments. Informed consent was not required because of the retrospective nature of the study.
Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.