Indications for insulin pump therapy in different age groups: an analysis of 1,567 children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The German working group for pump therapy in paediatric patients has defined seven indications for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII): dawn phenomenon, reduction of severe hypoglycaemia, improvement of hyperglycaemia, more flexibility, motivation, failure of injection therapy and pregnancy. In this study we analysed age-specific differences for starting CSII in four age groups (group A: 0-4 years; group B: 5-9 years; group C: 10-14 years; group D: 15-19 years). We also investigated whether glycaemic goals could be reached.


METHODS
A total of 1567 children and adolescents (mean age 12.4 years, mean diabetes duration 5.2 years) with documented indications for CSII from the DPV-database (December 2005) were included.


RESULTS
Dawn phenomenon (27.4%), reduction of hypoglycaemia (20%) and improvement of hyperglycaemia (18.1%) were the commonest indications for starting CSII. Indications differed by age group (P < 0.0001). In infants and toddlers (group A, n = 138) reduction of hypoglycaemia (42.5%) was the commonest indication. For adolescents (group C, n = 789/group D, n = 408) dawn phenomenon (32.1/21.7%) and flexibility (21.7/25.8%) were the main indications. The rate of severe hypoglycaemia with coma in patients commencing CSII in order to reduce hypoglycaemia fell (12.1/100 patient years before CSII vs. 5.8 after 1 year, 4.49 at study end). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) in patients with the treatment goal 'improvement of hyperglycaemia' was lowered significantly in the first year of CSII (HbA(1c) start: 8.8%; after 1 year: 8.5%, P < 0.01) and was stable thereafter (8.8% after 36 months).


CONCLUSIONS
CSII in children and adolescents is safe and can reduce the rate of severe hypoglycaemia without deterioration in glycaemic control. In patients with poor glucose control, a significant reduction in HbA(1c) can be achieved in the first year.
Kapellen
T M
TM
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Germany. kapt@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Heidtmann
B
B
Bachmann
J
J
Ziegler
R
R
Grabert
M
M
Holl
R W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose