Inequity in access to continuous glucose monitoring and health outcomes in paediatric diabetes, a case for national continuous glucose monitoring funding: A cross-sectional population study of children with type 1 diabetes in New Zealand

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves glycaemia for people affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D), but is not funded in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This study explores the impact of non-funded CGM on equity of access and associated glycaemic outcomes. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based study collected socio-demographic (age, gender, prioritised ethnicity, socioeconomic status) and clinical data from all regional diabetes centres in New Zealand with children <15 years with T1D as of 1st October 2021. De-identified data were obtained from existing databases or chart review. Outcomes compared socio-demographic characteristics between those using all forms of CGM and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and association with HbA1c. FINDINGS: 1209 eligible children were evaluated: 70.2% European, 18.1% Māori, 7.1% Pacific, 4.6% Asian, with even distribution across socioeconomic quintiles. Median HbA1c was 64 mmol/mol (8.0%), 40.2% utilised intermittently scanned (is)CGM, and 27.2% real-time (rt)CGM. CGM utilisation was lowest with Pacific ethnicity (38% lower than Māori) and the most deprived socioeconomic quintiles (quintile 5 vs. 1 adjusted RR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.84). CGM use was associated with regional diabetes centre (P < 0.001). The impact of CGM use on HbA1c differed by ethnicity: Māori children had the greatest difference in HbA1c between SMBG and rtCGM (adjusted difference −15.3 mmol/mol; 95% CI, −21.5 to −9.1), with less pronounced differences seen with other ethnicities. INTERPRETATION: Inequities in CGM use exist based on prioritised ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Importantly, CGM was independently associated with lower HbA1c, suggesting that lack of CGM funding contributes to health disparity in children with T1D. FUNDING: 10.13039/501100020473Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (10.13039/501100020473APEG), 10.13039/501100001530Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, 10.13039/501100019168Starship Foundation.