Diabetic ketoacidosis at the onset of disease during a national awareness campaign: a 2-year observational study in children aged 0-18 years

Abstract

Objective: After a previous survey on the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset of type 1 diabetes in children in 2013-2014 in Italy, we aimed to verify a possible decline in the incidence of DKA at onset during a national prevention campaign.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Multicentre study throughout Italy.

Intervention: National awareness campaign started in November 2015 and held until December 2017.

Patients: During 2016 and 2017 we collected data on all patients aged 0-18 years with new-onset diabetes.

Main outcome measures: DKA (pH <7.30), severe DKA (pH <7.1), DKA in children below 6 years and DKA treatment according to the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (ISPED) protocol were evaluated.

Results: Records (n=2361) of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were collected from 58 out of 68 (85.3%) centres of the original survey participants and 100% of the previously surveyed tertiary centres. Overall, DKA was observed in 1124 patients, with an increased rate when compared with the previous survey (47.6% vs 38.5%, p=0.002), and severe DKA in 15.3%. In children below 6 years, DKA was observed in 323 out of 617 (52.5%) and severe DKA in 16.7%; in this age group, occurrence of DKA reduced by 21.3% (p=0.009). DKA treatment according to the ISPED guidelines was adopted in 95% of the centres, with a 27% improvement (p=0.025).

Conclusions: During a 2-year awareness campaign, DKA at onset of diabetes in children and adolescents 0-18 years is still common and increased when compared with the 2013-2014 survey.

Keywords: diabetes; diabetic ketoacidosis; epidemiology.