Increase in the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Young Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To describe the incidence of new onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) among children younger than 11 years old diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020-December 31, 2021) compared to those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period (January 1, 2017-February 29, 2020) and to compare the metabolic parameters of those with T2D diagnosed before age 11 years with those diagnosed after age 11 years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of youth <21 years with new onset T2D treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021. Patients diagnosed at age <11 years were compared to those ≥11 years.

Results: Out of 145 patients with T2D diagnosed 2017-2021, eight (5.5%) were <11 years and all presented during the COVID-19 pandemic (8.9% of those diagnosed during the pandemic). Patients diagnosed <11 years had higher median body mass index percentile compared to patients diagnosed ≥11 years (169% of 95th percentile vs. 137%, p=0.03). Frequency of diastolic hypertension was greater among the younger group compared to older patients (62.5% vs 23.8%, p=0.03).

Conclusions: An increase in T2D incidence was seen in children <11 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prior. Multifactorial influences favoring an obesogenic environment may have had a stronger impact on the younger population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is needed to help understand these trends and develop mitigation plans to reduce complications of early-onset obesity and insulin resistance.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; body mass index; pandemic; type 2 diabetes.