Stable rates of diabetic ketoacidosis at the initial episode of type 1 diabetes mellitus are associated with a shift towards younger age at diagnosis: 8 years’ experience of a large Portuguese centre

Abstract

Background: The rate of diabetic ketoacidosis in new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus depends on multiple factors and is very heterogeneous between countries. An inverse relationship between the incidences of T1D and DKA seems to exist. Moreover, DKA is reported to be more common in children under 5 years old. Current data on Portuguese pediatric DKA incidence in new-onset T1D is limited. We aimed to determine the rate of DKA incidence in this population, as well as risk and protective factors.Methods: Review of data from children aged 18 years or younger with new onset T1D, referred to a pediatric endocrinology unit between January 1st, 2013 and December 31th, 2020 (8 years).Results: 276 patients were included with a median age of 9.6 years-old (0.5-17.9 years): 15,6% aged between 2 and 5 years-old and 3,6% under two years. A mean incidence of 34,5 new cases per year was observed, with an upward trend. One hundred and five (38%) presented with DKA, which was considered severe in 9,4%; 50 patients (18,1%) presented only with hyperglycemia. Non-DKA at presentation was associated with family history of T1D (p=0.016). DKA at presentation was more frequent in the age group under 2 years old (p=0.005).Conclusions: DKA’s frequency at new onset T1D is still high, although only a small proportion of cases was considered severe. A family history of T1D correlated with a non-DKA presentation, while an age under 2 years presented as a risk factor for DKA.