
Benchmarking care outcomes for young adults with type 1 diabetes in Australia after transition to adult care
Author(s) -
Rueter Phidias,
Farrell Kaye,
Phelan Helen,
Colman Peter,
Craig Maria E.,
Gunton Jenny,
HolmesWalker D. Jane
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2398-9238
DOI - 10.1002/edm2.295
Subject(s) - medicine , type 1 diabetes , diabetic ketoacidosis , diabetes mellitus , attendance , pediatrics , type 2 diabetes , cohort , young adult , endocrinology , economics , economic growth
Aim To determine advantages conferred by a youth‐specific transition clinic model for young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at Westmead Hospital (WH) as compared with Australian registry data. Methods Prospectively collected data included age, diabetes duration, visit frequency, post code, BMI, mode of insulin delivery, continuous glucose monitoring, HbA1c, albumin creatinine ratio, BP, retinopathy and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) for all WH T1D clinic attendees aged 16–25 between January 2017 and June 2018 ( n = 269). Results were compared with data collected during the same time period from 2 separate Australian data registries, one longitudinal (Australasian Diabetes Data Network, ADDN) and one a spot survey (the Australian National Diabetes Audit, ANDA). Results Across the three cohorts, HbA1c was similar (respectively, WH, ADDN, ANDA; 8.7%[72mmol/mol], 8.7%[72mmol/mol], 8.5%[69mmol/mol]) and HbA1c was significantly higher in young adults <21 years (8.7–8.9%[73‐75mmol/mol]) as compared with ≥21 years (8.5%[69mmol/mol], p < .002). In the WH cohort, median interval between visits was shorter than in ADDN (4.5 vs. 9.0 months) and DKA was lower (respectively, 3.6 and 9.2/100 patient years; p < .001). Conclusions While suboptimal HbA1c was recorded in all centres, the WH model of care saw increased attendance and reduced admissions with DKA as compared with other Australian adult centres.