Determining diagnosis date of diabetes using structured electronic health record (EHR) data: the SEARCH for diabetes in youth study.

BACKGROUND: Disease surveillance of diabetes among youth has relied mainly upon manual chart review. However, increasingly available structured electronic health record (EHR) data have been shown to yield accurate determinations of diabetes status and type. Validated algorithms to determine date of diabetes diagnosis are lacking. The objective of this work is to validate two EHR-based algorithms to determine date of diagnosis of diabetes. METHODS: A rule-based ICD-10 algorithm identified youth with diabetes from structured EHR data over the period of 2009 through 2017 within three children's hospitals that participate in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study: Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, and Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver, CO. Previous research and a multidisciplinary team informed the creation of two algorithms based upon structured EHR data to determine date of diagnosis among diabetes cases. An ICD-code algorithm was defined by the year of occurrence of a second ICD-9 or ICD-10 diabetes code. A multiple-criteria algorithm consisted of the year of first occurrence of any of the following: diabetes-related ICD code, elevated glucose, elevated HbA1c, or diabetes medication. We assessed algorithm performance by percent agreement with a gold standard date of diagnosis determined by chart review. RESULTS: Among 3777 cases, both algorithms demonstrated high agreement with true diagnosis year and differed in classification (p = 0.006): 86.5% agreement for the ICD code algorithm and 85.9% agreement for the multiple-criteria algorithm. Agreement was high for both type 1 and type 2 cases for the ICD code algorithm. Performance improved over time. CONCLUSIONS: Year of occurrence of the second ICD diabetes-related code in the EHR yields an accurate diagnosis date within these pediatric hospital systems. This may lead to increased efficiency and sustainability of surveillance methods for incidence of diabetes among youth.

Longitudinal associations between sex, diabetes self-care, and health-related quality of life among youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal associations between sex, diabetes self-care, and the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children and adolescents with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: The sample included 910 participants with type 1 and 241 participants with type 2, ages 10-22 years at baseline, from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, a longitudinal observational study. The primary outcome measure was the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Repeated measures, mixed-model regression analysis was conducted with the use of data from baseline and at least one follow-up assessment, spanning approximately 4 years. RESULTS: HRQL was greater among those with type 1 versus type 2 diabetes. Among participants with type 1, greater (better) Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory total scores over time were related to greater parent education (P = .0007), lower glycated hemoglobin values (P < .0001), and greater physical activity during the past 7 days (P = .0001). There was a significant interaction between sex and age (P < .0001); girls' HRQL remained stable or decreased over time, whereas males' HRQL increased. For participants with type 2 diabetes, there was no significant interaction by age and sex, but lower total HRQL was related to being female (P = .011) and greater body mass index z-scores (P = .014). CONCLUSIONS: HRQL in this cohort varied by diabetes type. The interaction between sex and age for type 1 participants, coupled with poorer HRQL among female than male participants with type 2 diabetes, suggests the impacts of diabetes on HRQL differ by sex and should be considered in clinical management. Encouraging physical activity and weight control continue to be important in improving HRQL.

Digenic heterozygous HNF1A and HNF4A mutations in two siblings with childhood-onset diabetes.

Monogenic diabetes due to mutations in the transcription factor genes hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A (HNF1A) and HNF4A is characterized by islet cell antibody negative, familial diabetes with residual insulin secretion. We report two sisters with childhood onset diabetes who are both heterozygous for the most common mutation in each of two transcription factors, HNF1A, and HNF4A. The proband was diagnosed with diabetes at 7 yr of age and treated with insulin for 4 yr. Her genetic diagnosis resulted in transition to sulfonylureas for one and a half years before insulin therapy was re-initiated due to declining glycemic control. Her sister was diagnosed with diabetes at 14 yr of age, treated initially with insulin but has been well controlled on oral sulfonylurea therapy for over 2 yr. Both sisters inherited the HNF4A gene mutation R127W from their mother and the HNF1A gene mutation P291fsinsC (c.872dup) from their father. The father was diagnosed with diabetes at 45 yr of age. Their brother is heterozygous for the HNF4A R127W mutation. Both the brother and mother have normal glucose tolerance at the ages of 16 and 46 yr, respectively. Digenic inheritance of HNF1A and HNF4A mutations is very rare and has only been reported in two families where conclusive evidence for the pathogenicity of their mutations was lacking. Follow-up studies in this family co-segregating the two most commonly reported HNF1A/HNF4A mutations will be informative for understanding the effect of digenic inheritance upon phenotypic severity and response to sulfonylurea therapy.

Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus: prevalence and genetic diagnosis in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is defined as diabetes with onset before 6 months of age. Nearly half of individuals with NDM are affected by permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM). Mutations in KATP channel genes (KCNJ11, ABCC8) and the insulin gene (INS) are the most common causes of PNDM. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of PNDM among SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth (SEARCH) study participants (2001-2008) and to identify the genetic mutations causing PNDM. METHODS: SEARCH is a multicenter population-based study of diabetes in youth <20 yr of age. Participants diagnosed with diabetes before 6 months of age were invited for genetic testing for mutations in the KCNJ11, ABCC8, and INS genes. RESULTS: Of the 15,829 SEARCH participants with diabetes, 39 were diagnosed before 6 months of age. Thirty-five of them had PNDM (0.22% of all diabetes cases in SEARCH), 3 had transient neonatal diabetes that had remitted by 18 months and 1 was unknown. The majority of them (66.7%) had a clinical diagnosis of type1 diabetes by their health care provider. Population prevalence of PNDM in youth <20 yr was estimated at 1 in 252 000. Seven participants underwent genetic testing; mutations causing PNDM were identified in five (71%), (two KCNJ11, three INS). CONCLUSIONS: We report the first population-based frequency of PNDM in the US based on the frequency of PNDM in SEARCH. Patients with NDM are often misclassified as having type1 diabetes. Widespread education is essential to encourage appropriate genetic testing and treatment of NDM.

Association of DASH diet with cardiovascular risk factors in youth with diabetes mellitus: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study.

BACKGROUND: We have shown that adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is related to blood pressure in youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We explored the impact of the DASH diet on other cardiovascular disease risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2005, data on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein particle density, apolipoprotein B, body mass index, waist circumference, and adipocytokines were ascertained in 2130 youth aged 10 to 22 years with physician-diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire, categorized into the DASH food groups, and assigned an adherence score. Among youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus, higher adherence to the DASH diet was significantly and inversely associated with low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio and A(1c) in multivariable-adjusted models. Youth in the highest adherence tertile had an estimated 0.07 lower low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio and 0.2 lower A(1c) levels than those in the lowest tertile adjusted for confounders. No significant associations were observed with triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein particle density, adipocytokines, apolipoprotein B, body mass index Z score, or waist circumference. Among youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus, associations were observed with low-density lipoprotein particle density and body mass index Z score. CONCLUSIONS: The DASH dietary pattern may be beneficial in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease risk in youth with diabetes mellitus.

ß-cell dysfunction in adolescents and adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ß-cell function in adolescents and adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine adolescents with T2DM, 38 age- and weight-matched control subjects, and 19 adults with T2DM were studied. The adolescent subjects with diabetes were divided on the basis of whether they needed insulin to control their initial hyperglycemia. The primary outcome variable was the disposition index, computed from the acute insulin response to glucose corrected for insulin sensitivity (1/Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance). RESULTS: The disposition index was significantly reduced in all 3 diabetic groups (control n=3360, adolescents with T2DM without insulin n=630, adolescents with T2DM with insulin n=120, adults with T2DM n=200; P<.001), and the adolescents with more severe hyperglycemia at diagnosis had lower disposition index than those with a more modest presentation (P<.05). CONCLUSION: At the time of diagnosis, adolescents with T2DM have significant ß-cell dysfunction, comparable with adults newly diagnosed with T2DM. Thus, severe ß-cell impairment can develop within the first two decades of life and is likely to play a central role in the pathogenesis of T2DM in adolescents.

Prevalence of tobacco use and association between cardiometabolic risk factors and cigarette smoking in youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To examine prevalence of tobacco use and coexistence of cardiometabolic risk factors according to smoking status in youth with diabetes mellitus. STUDY DESIGN: Youth aged 10 to 22 years who participated in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study (n = 3466) were surveyed about their tobacco use and examined for cardiometabolic risk factors: waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, physical activity, and lipid profile. RESULTS: The prevalence of tobacco use in youth aged 10 to 14 years, 15 to 19 years, and ≥20 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus was 2.7%, 17.1%, and 34.0%, respectively, and the prevalence in youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus was 5.5%, 16.4%, and 40.3%, respectively. Smoking was more likely in youth with annual family incomes <$50 000, regardless of diabetes mellitus type. Cigarette smoking was associated with higher odds of high triglyceride levels and physical inactivity in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Less than 50% of youth aged 10 to 14 years (52.2% of participants) reported having ever been counseled by their healthcare provider to not smoke or to stop smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use is prevalent in youth with diabetes mellitus. Aggressive tobacco prevention and cessation programs should be a high priority to prevent or delay the development of cardiovascular disease.

Detection of Diabetes Status and Type in Youth Using Electronic Health Records: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes surveillance often requires manual medical chart reviews to confirm status and type. This project aimed to create an electronic health record (EHR)-based procedure for improving surveillance efficiency through automation of case identification. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Youth (<20 years old) with potential evidence of diabetes (N = 8,682) were identified from EHRs at three children's hospitals participating in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. True diabetes status/type was determined by manual chart reviews. Multinomial regression was compared with an ICD-10 rule-based algorithm in the ability to correctly identify diabetes status and type. Subsequently, the investigators evaluated a scenario of combining the rule-based algorithm with targeted chart reviews where the algorithm performed poorly. RESULTS: The sample included 5,308 true cases (89.2% type 1 diabetes). The rule-based algorithm outperformed regression for overall accuracy (0.955 vs. 0.936). Type 1 diabetes was classified well by both methods: sensitivity (Se) (>0.95), specificity (Sp) (>0.96), and positive predictive value (PPV) (>0.97). In contrast, the PPVs for type 2 diabetes were 0.642 and 0.778 for the rule-based algorithm and the multinomial regression, respectively. Combination of the rule-based method with chart reviews (n = 695, 7.9%) of persons predicted to have non-type 1 diabetes resulted in perfect PPV for the cases reviewed while increasing overall accuracy (0.983). The Se, Sp, and PPV for type 2 diabetes using the combined method were ≥0.91. CONCLUSIONS: An ICD-10 algorithm combined with targeted chart reviews accurately identified diabetes status/type and could be an attractive option for diabetes surveillance in youth.

Predictors of insulin regimens and impact on outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the insulin regimens used to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in youth in the United States, to explore factors related to insulin regimen, and to describe the associations between insulin regimen and clinical outcomes, particularly glycemic control. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 2743 subjects participated in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, an observational population-based study of youth diagnosed with T1DM, conducted at 6 centers. Data collected during a study visit included clinical and sociodemographic information, body mass index, laboratory measures, and insulin regimen. RESULTS: Sociodemographic characteristics were associated with insulin regimen. Insulin pump therapy was more frequently used by older youth, females, non-Hispanic whites, and families with higher income and education (P = .02 for females, P < .001 for others). Insulin pump use was associated with the lowest hemoglobin A1C levels in all age groups. A1C levels were >7.5% in >70% of adolescents, regardless of regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Youth using insulin pumps had the lowest A1C; A1C was unacceptably high in adolescents. There is a need to more fully assess and understand factors associated with insulin regimens recommended by providers and the influence of race/ethnicity, education, and socioeconomic status on these treatment recommendations and to develop more effective treatment strategies, particularly for adolescents.

Glycemic control in youth with diabetes: the SEARCH for diabetes in Youth Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess correlates of glycemic control in a diverse population of children and youth with diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from a 6-center US study of diabetes in youth, including 3947 individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 552 with type 2 diabetes (T2D), using hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) levels to assess glycemic control. RESULTS: HbA(1c) levels reflecting poor glycemic control (HbA(1c) >or= 9.5%) were found in 17% of youth with T1D and in 27% of those with T2D. African-American, American Indian, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander youth with T1D were significantly more likely to have higher HbA(1c) levels compared with non-Hispanic white youth (with respective rates for poor glycemic control of 36%, 52%, 27%, and 26% vs 12%). Similarly poor control in these 4 racial/ethnic groups was found in youth with T2D. Longer duration of diabetes was significantly associated with poorer glycemic control in youth with T1D and T2D. CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of US youth with HbA(1c) levels above the target value and with poor glycemic control indicates an urgent need for effective treatment strategies to improve metabolic status in youth with diabetes.

Evaluating geographic imputation approaches for zip code level data: an application to a study of pediatric diabetes.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the study of place effects on health, facilitated in part by geographic information systems. Incomplete or missing address information reduces geocoding success. Several geographic imputation methods have been suggested to overcome this limitation. Accuracy evaluation of these methods can be focused at the level of individuals and at higher group-levels (e.g., spatial distribution). METHODS: We evaluated the accuracy of eight geo-imputation methods for address allocation from ZIP codes to census tracts at the individual and group level. The spatial apportioning approaches underlying the imputation methods included four fixed (deterministic) and four random (stochastic) allocation methods using land area, total population, population under age 20, and race/ethnicity as weighting factors. Data included more than 2,000 geocoded cases of diabetes mellitus among youth aged 0-19 in four U.S. regions. The imputed distribution of cases across tracts was compared to the true distribution using a chi-squared statistic. RESULTS: At the individual level, population-weighted (total or under age 20) fixed allocation showed the greatest level of accuracy, with correct census tract assignments averaging 30.01% across all regions, followed by the race/ethnicity-weighted random method (23.83%). The true distribution of cases across census tracts was that 58.2% of tracts exhibited no cases, 26.2% had one case, 9.5% had two cases, and less than 3% had three or more. This distribution was best captured by random allocation methods, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.90). However, significant differences in distributions based on fixed allocation methods were found (p-value < 0.0003). CONCLUSION: Fixed imputation methods seemed to yield greatest accuracy at the individual level, suggesting use for studies on area-level environmental exposures. Fixed methods result in artificial clusters in single census tracts. For studies focusing on spatial distribution of disease, random methods seemed superior, as they most closely replicated the true spatial distribution. When selecting an imputation approach, researchers should consider carefully the study aims.

Efficacy of the Flexible Lifestyles Empowering Change intervention on metabolic and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (FLEX): a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes commonly have poor glycaemic control. We aimed to test the efficacy of a newly developed adaptive behavioral intervention (Flexible Lifestyles Empowering Change; FLEX) on metabolic and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Young people (13-16 years, type 1 diabetes duration >1 year, HbA1c of 64-119 mmol/mol [8·0-13·0%], and without other serious medical conditions or pregnancy) from two clinical sites (Colorado and Ohio, USA) were eligible for enrolment. One caregiver was required to participate actively in the study. Adolescent participants were randomly assigned to the FLEX intervention, which used motivational interviewing and problem-solving skills training to enhance patients' self-management, or usual care control. Intervention fidelity was assessed by a behavioral psychologist with specific expertise in motivational interviewing and who was not otherwise involved in the study via audiotaped sessions. The primary outcome was measurement of glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at 18 months. Secondary outcomes included motivation and intention, problem solving skills, self-management behaviors, symptoms of depression, health related quality of life, fear of hypoglycemia, diabetes family conflict, risk factors for T1D complications (BMI, blood pressure, and plasma lipids), and hypoglycemia derived from continuous glucose monitoring (percent time below 3·0 and 3·9 mmol/l [54 and 70 mg/dl]). Intention-to-treat analyses used mixed effects models, with fixed effects including site, timepoint, intervention group, intervention by timepoint, and baseline level of primary (HbA1c) or secondary outcomes (α=0·05). FLEX is registered on clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT01286350. FINDINGS: Young people recruited from May 1, 2014 to April 4, 2016 were randomly assigned to FLEX (n=130) or usual care control (n=128). Mean diabetes duration was 6·4 (SD 3·8) years, and 71% (181 out of 256) of patients used insulin pump therapy. Retention was 93%, with 241 out of 258 completing the 18-month assessment. The intervention fidelity score was 4·40 of 5·00 for motivational interviewing and 97% for session content. At 18 months, HbA1c was not significantly different between intervention (83 [13] mmol/mol at baseline; 84 [19] mmol/mol at follow-up); and control (80 [14] mmol/mol at baseline; 82 [17] mmol/mol at follow-up); change in intervention versus control was -0·7 mmol/mol (95% CI -4·7 to 3·4, p=0·75). The intervention was associated with improved scores for motivation (p=0·011), problem solving (p=0·024), diabetes self-management profile (p=0·013), youth report of overall quality of life (p=0·0089), selected domains related to fear of hypoglycaemia (p=0·036 for youth's helplessness or worry; p=0·0051 for parent's efforts to maintain high blood glucose), parent report of diabetes family conflict (p=0·0001), total cholesterol (p=0·038), and diastolic blood pressure (p=0·015). A total of 54 serious adverse events were identified; 34 of these were diabetes-related, including low blood glucose requiring assistance (n=3) and high blood glucose with diabetic ketoacidosis and emergency response (n=25). INTERPRETATION: The FLEX intervention did not significantly change HbA1c among these adolescents with elevated HbA1c, but did positively affect several psychosocial outcomes over 18 months. Further analyses will provide information regarding drivers of positive response to the intervention and will point to future directions for improvement in the approach. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Diabetes Digestive Diseases and Kidney and the Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The Flexible Lifestyle Empowering Change (FLEX) intervention for self-management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Trial design and baseline characteristics.

The Flexible Lifestyle Empowering Change (FLEX) Intervention Study is a multi-site randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an adaptive behavioral intervention to promote self-management for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). This paper details FLEX design, demographic characteristics of the sample, and outcome variables at baseline. Participants were randomized to either an intervention or control arm after their baseline standardized measurement visit. Baseline data for the primary (glycemic levels) and secondary outcome variables (e.g., motivation and problem-solving, health-related quality of life, risk factors associated with T1D complications) as well as the potential mediator variables (e.g., self-management behavior, family conflict and responsibility) suggest that the study sample was representative of the general population of adolescents with T1D and their parents. The FLEX adaptive intervention is an innovative application of a tailored treatment intervention designed to be readily adopted in real-world practice to meet each adolescent's individualized T1D self-management goals.

Neighborhood characteristics, food deserts, rurality, and type 2 diabetes in youth: Findings from a case-control study.

Little is known about the influence of neighborhood characteristics on risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among youth. We used data from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Case-Control Study to evaluate the association of neighborhood characteristics, including food desert status of the census tract, with T2D in youth. We found a larger proportion of T2D cases in tracts with lower population density, larger minority population, and lower levels of education, household income, housing value, and proportion of the population in a managerial position. However, most associations of T2D with neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were attributable to differences in individual characteristics. Notably, in multivariate logistic regression models, T2D was associated with living in the least densely populated study areas, and this finding requires further exploration.

Two-step recruitment process optimizes retention in FLEX clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The Flexible Lifestyle Empowering Change Study (FLEX) is a multi-site randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an adaptive behavioral intervention to promote self-management and improve glycemic control for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A two-step recruitment process was used to optimize study retention by facilitating informed decision-making regarding participation. METHODS: Those who expressed interest at first contact were given more detailed study information followed by telephone calls to the adolescents and their parents to answer questions and explore potential barriers to participation before making a decision regarding study enrollment. RESULTS: Of 694 eligible adolescents who were invited to participate, 397 (57.2%) expressed interest when initially contacted (Step 1). Upon completion of the follow-up telephone calls (Step 2), 276 (39.8%) still agreed to participate; and 258 (37.2%) enrolled and completed a baseline visit with a parent/guardian. Completion rates for measurement visits remained high throughout the study, with an end-of-study retention rate of 93.4%; and only 12 (4.7%) families withdrew from the study. CONCLUSION: The two-step recruitment process encourages potential participants to thoughtfully evaluate their willingness to participate, as well as their ability to make a commitment to the full completion of study requirements. When demonstrating the efficacy of a randomized controlled trial, it may be preferable to accept lower recruitment rates in order to optimize retention rates. The additional time and effort required to implement this two-step process is worthwhile. With a high retention rate, we can be more confident that the outcomes of the randomized controlled trial actually reflect the impact of the intervention.

Dietary quality and markers of inflammation: No association in youth with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation is a key process underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD) development, and CVD risk is significantly elevated in persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Youth with T1D exhibit increased levels of inflammation. Studies in persons without diabetes suggest that dietary quality influences inflammation, yet little is known about dietary influences on inflammation in youth with T1D. METHODS: This study evaluated the association of four distinct dietary quality indices (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI2010), modified KIDMED and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)) with biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) in a sample of 2520 youth with T1D participating in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. RESULTS: Average diet quality was moderate to poor, with mean scores of 43 (DASH, range 0-80), 55 (HEI2010, range 0-100), 3.7 (mKIDMED, range 3-12) and 7237 (TAC). None of the four diet quality scores was associated with the selected biomarkers of inflammation in any analyses. Evaluation of a non-linear relationship or interactions with BMI or levels of glycemic control did not alter the findings. Replication of analyses using longitudinal data yielded consistent findings with our cross-sectional results. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarkers of inflammation in youth with T1D may not be directly influenced by dietary intake, at least at the levels of dietary quality observed here. More work is needed to understand what physiologic mechanisms specific to persons with T1D might inhibit the generally beneficial influence of high dietary quality on systemic inflammation observed in populations without diabetes.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Youth With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) enrolled in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth (SEARCH) study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) was used to assess DPN in 1,734 youth with T1D (mean ± SD age 18 ± 4 years, T1D duration 7.2 ± 1.2 years, and HbA1c 9.1 ± 1.9%) and 258 youth with T2D (age 22 ± 3.5 years, T2D duration 7.9 ± 2 years, and HbA1c 9.4 ± 2.3%) who were enrolled in the SEARCH study and had ≥5 years of diabetes duration. DPN was defined as an MNSI exam score of >2. Glycemic control over time was estimated as area under the curve for HbA1c. RESULTS: The prevalence of DPN was 7% in youth with T1D and 22% in youth with T2D. Risk factors for DPN in youth with T1D were older age, longer diabetes duration, smoking, increased diastolic blood pressure, obesity, increased LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and lower HDL cholesterol (HDL-c). In youth with T2D, risk factors were older age, male sex, longer diabetes duration, smoking, and lower HDL-c. Glycemic control over time was worse among those with DPN compared with those without for youth with T1D (odds ratio 1.53 [95% CI 1.24; 1.88]) but not for youth with T2D (1.05 [0.7; 1.56]). CONCLUSIONS: The high rates of DPN among youth with diabetes are a cause of concern and suggest a need for early screening and better risk factor management. Interventions in youth that address poor glycemic control and dyslipidemia may prevent or delay debilitating neuropathic complications.

Factors influencing time to case registration for youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

PURPOSE: The development of a sustainable pediatric diabetes surveillance system for the United States requires a better understanding of issues related to case ascertainment. METHODS: Using the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth registry, we examined whether time from diabetes diagnosis to case registration differed by diabetes type, patient demographics, and the type of provider reporting the case to the study. Plots for time from diagnosis to registration were developed, and differences by key variables were examined using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Compared with time to registration for type 1 cases, it took 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-2.6) times longer to register 50% of type 2 diabetes cases, and 2.3 (95% CI, 2.0-2.5) times longer to register 90% of type 2 cases. For type 1 diabetes cases, a longer time to registration was associated with older age, minority race/ethnicity, and cases, where the referring provider was not an endocrinologist. For type 2 diabetes cases, older age, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, and cases reported by providers other than an endocrinologist took longer to identify and register. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for continued childhood diabetes surveillance to identify future trends and influences on changes in prevalence and incidence.

Trends in the prevalence of ketoacidosis at diabetes diagnosis: the SEARCH for diabetes in youth study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate temporal changes in the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes in youth and to explore factors associated with its occurrence. METHODS: Five centers identified incident cases of diabetes among youth aged 0 to 19 years starting in 2002. DKA presence was defined as a bicarbonate level <15 mmol/L and/or a pH <7.25 (venous) or <7.30 (arterial or capillary) or mention of DKA in the medical records. We assessed trends in the prevalence of DKA over 3 time periods (2002-2003, 2004-2005, and 2008-2010). Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with DKA. RESULTS: In youth with type 1 diabetes (n = 5615), the prevalence of DKA was high and stable over time (30.2% in 2002-2003, 29.1% in 2004-2005, and 31.1% in 2008-2010; P for trend = .42). Higher prevalence was associated with younger age at diagnosis (P < .0001), minority race/ethnicity (P = .019), income (P = .019), and lack of private health insurance (P = 008). Among youth with type 2 diabetes (n = 1425), DKA prevalence decreased from 11.7% in 2002-2003 to 5.7% in 2008-2010 (P for trend = .005). Higher prevalence was associated with younger age at diagnosis (P = .001), minority race/ethnicity (P = .013), and male gender (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of DKA in youth with type 1 diabetes, although stable, remains high, indicating a persistent need for increased awareness of signs and symptoms of diabetes and better access to health care. In youth with type 2 diabetes, DKA at onset is less common and is decreasing over time.

Prevalence of diabetes in U.S. youth in 2009: the SEARCH for diabetes in youth study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes in U.S. youth aged <20 years in 2009 and to estimate the total number of youth with diabetes in the U.S. by age, race/ethnicity, and diabetes type. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: To address one of its primary aims, the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study identified youth aged <20 years on 31 December 2009 with physician-diagnosed diabetes in selected areas of Colorado, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington, among health plan members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and among American Indians living on reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. Diabetes was classified as type 1, type 2, or other. Race/ethnicity was by self-report. RESULTS: From a population of 3,458,974 youth aged <20 years, 7,695 youth with diabetes were identified (2.22/1,000): 6,668 with type 1 diabetes (1.93/1,000), 837 with type 2 diabetes (0.24/1,000), and 190 (0.05/1,000) with other diabetes types. Prevalence increased with age, was slightly higher in females than males, and was most prevalent in non-Hispanic White and least prevalent in Asian/Pacific Islanders, with Native American and black youth having the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes. An estimated 191,986 U.S. youth aged <20 years have diabetes; 166,984 type 1 diabetes, 20,262 type 2 diabetes, and 4,740 other types. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes, one of the leading chronic diseases in childhood, affects >190,000 (1 of 433) youth aged <20 years in the U.S., with racial and ethnic disparities seen in diabetes prevalence, overall and by diabetes type.