Service use and glycaemic control of young people with type 1 diabetes transitioning from paediatric to adult care: a 5-year study

BackgroundRegular contact with specialist care has been linked to better diabetes outcomes for young people with type 1 diabetes (YPwT1D), but evidence is limited to population-based service usage and outcomes.AimsThis observational 5-year study sought to capture YPwT1D living in the study catchment area (covering metropolitan, regional and rural Australia) as they transitioned to adult-based diabetes healthcare services and to describe their glycaemic control and complication rates, service usage and associated factors.MethodsRecords between 2010 and 2014 in a public healthcare specialist diabetes database were extracted, care processes and outcomes were described, and associations were sought between episodes of care (EOC) and potentially predictive variables.ResultsAnnual cohort numbers increased yearly, but without significant differences in demographic characteristics. Each year around 40% had no reported planned specialist care, and the average number of planned EOC decreased significantly year on year. Overall, mean HbA1c levels also reduced significantly, but with higher values recorded for those living in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas (achieving significance in 3 out of 5 years). Diabetes complication assessments were only reported in 37-46%, indicating one in five with retinopathy and hypertension affecting one in three to five young people.ConclusionsFindings highlight the importance of investment to address the specific needs of adolescents and young adults and demonstrate the need for better support during these vulnerable early years, particularly for non-metropolitan residents. This will entail changes to funding mechanisms, the health workforce and infrastructure, and new models of care to provide equity of access and quality of specialist care.