THU144 Highs And Lows: Trends In The Incidence Of Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Related To The COVID 19 Pandemic

Disclosure: J. Goroff: None. P. Hanley: None. A. Gannon: None. T. Grunwald: None. The COVID 19 pandemic and associated lock downs resulted in a definitive change in lifestyle that has had multiple associated outcomes for child health. There has been report of dramatic increases in the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in the months and years immediately following the start of the pandemic. However, whether this demonstrates an overall upward trend in disease burden, or a discrete spike has yet to be described. In this retrospective cohort study patients younger than 21 years old diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes from January 2017 to December 2022 at a large stand-alone children’s hospital were compared. Chart review was conducted at participants’ first endocrinology office visit or inpatient hospital stay for new onset Type 2 Diabetes. Diagnosis was confirmed with anti-body status for each participant. Statistical significance between incidences was determined using standard descriptive statistics. A total of 213 new onset Type 2 Diabetes cases were included. The average incidence of Type 2 Diabetes from 2017 to 2019 was 19 cases per year; compared to 65.5 cases per year from 2020 to 2021 representing a statistically significant increase in the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (p<0.001). 2022 saw a fall in incidence to 25 cases per year. This was a significantly lower incidence rate than 2020 to 2021 (p=0.01). There was no difference in incidence rate of Type 2 Diabetes from 2017 to 2019 and 2022 (p=0.39). These results support a significant increase in Type 2 Diabetes diagnoses with the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic. This may be secondary to sedentary lifestyle, increased mental health and psychosocial stressors or increased BMI. However, we demonstrate that two years after the onset of the pandemic there was a return to pre-pandemic incidences of Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes continues to pose a significant health threat to the pediatric population and burden for the medical system as they age. Nevertheless, if this trend continues and is reflected across other institutions, it is reassuring and may offer insight into modifiable risk factors yet to be investigated. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023