Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Has Fallen to Pre-COVID-19 Pandemic Levels: A Population-Wide Analysis From Scotland

Abstract

We previously reported in Diabetes Care that the incidence of type 1 diabetes among children aged 0–14 years in Scotland during 2020–2021 was 20% higher
than the 7-year average across 2015–2021. Among people aged 15–34 years, we observed a continued slow linear year-on-year rise across the study period. Our report aligned with the findings of a recent meta-analysis showing a rise in 2020 and a peak in 2021. However, using RT-PCR test data, we found no evidence supporting a direct causal effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection itself, consistent with a recent analysis in the prospective, multinational The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) cohort of children. These reports of rising type 1 diabetes cases are deeply concerning, as they herald increased morbidity, a decline in children’s quality of life, and increased burden on health services. An important question is whether this incidence rise continued in 2022 amid a less severe pandemic and lifted social restrictions.

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https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-2068