Journal of Pediatric Perspectives

Journal of Pediatric Perspectives

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Isfahan, Iran

Document Type : original article

Authors
Silva Hovsepian 1
Tahereh Alinia 1
Rojin Chegini 1
Neda Mostafizadeh 1
Shaghayegh Haghjoo Javanmard 2
Mahin Hashemipour 3
1 Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
3 Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center, Imam Hossein Children's Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22038/jpp.2025.85486.5518
Abstract
Background: Studies suggest a potential global increase in the incidence rate of type 1 diabetes (T1D) following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the incidence of T1D in Isfahan Province before and during the pandemic to better understand the situation in this population.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we determined the incidence rate of new-onset T1D for the two years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2019) and during the two years of the pandemic (2020-2021). We also calculated incidence rates each year by sex and age groups (0–4 years, 5–9 years, 10–14 years, and 15–18 years).
Results: The age-adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) of T1D in Isfahan were as follows: 16.38 (16.27-16.49) in 2018, 13.94 (13.51-14.35) in 2019, 13.17 (12.44-13.90) in 2020, and 18.09 (17.17-19.00) in 2021 per 100,000 children. The average annual percent change (APC) was 9.7%, with the highest APC of 37.34% in 2021. There was no statistically significant trend in T1D incidence during the study period (P > 0.05). The frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was higher during the COVID-19 period in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2018, with rates of 54.89% in 2021, 52.82% in 2020, 52.68% in 2019, and 32.49% in 2018 (P < 0.005).
Conclusion: This research observed an increasing incidence rate of T1D, particularly in the second year of the COVID-19 outbreak. While other studies have also reported an increase in T1D cases, the complex nature of T1D development makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on T1D onset.
Keywords
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
COVID-19
incidence
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Journal of Pediatric Perspectives
Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 19242-19253