[Childhood type 1 diabetes in Iceland; evaluation of quality of treatment].
BACKGROUND
The importance of adequate metabolic control in Type 1 DM has been repeatedly demonstrated in recent years. The care of diabetic children and adolescents in Iceland is centralized to one unit. The aim of the study was to analyze the quality of treatment and acute complications of Icelandic children with Type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
The total number of diabetic children in paediatric care was 98. A cross-sectional survey was done for the period March 15th to July 14th, 2004. The results for the patient last visit to the diabetes clinic were recorded. HbA1c levels (DCA 2000) and number of severe hypoglycaemic episodes, were evaluated.


RESULTS
The number of visits to the clinic during the 4 month interval were 83 (43 boys, 40 girls), mean age 13.3+/-3.78 years. Mean value of HbA1c in the cross-sectional survey was 8.16+/-1.31%. No difference in HbA1c was found between girls and boys. HbA1c increased with age in girls (p<0.01). Ten children experienced a total of 12 severe hypoglycaemic events during the period (43.4/100 patient years).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall the metabolic control in children and adolescents with IDDM in Iceland is satisfactory compared to internationally published results. It is important to focus attention on children with inadequate metabolic control, especially adolescent girls, and children experiencing serious hypoglycaemic episodes.
Thórisdóttir
Rannveig L
RL
Háskóla Islands, Landspítala Hringbraut, Reykjavik, Island.
Bjarnason
Ragnar
R
Konrádsdóttir
Elísabet
E
Thórsson
Arni V
AV
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human