Age-Related Differences in the Frequency of Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Anne Hekkala; Antti Reunanen; Matti Koski; Mikael Knip; Riitta Veijola

doi:10.2337/dc09-2344

Age-Related Differences in the Frequency of Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Anne Hekkala, MD (anne.hekkala{at}oulu.fi)¹,
Antti Reunanen, MD, PhD²,⁴,
Matti Koski, M.Sc³,
Mikael Knip, MD, PhD³,⁴,⁵,
Riitta Veijola, MD, PhD¹ and
The Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Register

¹Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
²National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
³Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
⁴Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
⁵Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

Abstract

Objective — We studied the prevalence of DKA at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children in Finland.

Research design and methods — During 2002-2005 data on virtually all children <15 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Finland was collected (n=1656).

Results — DKA was present in 19.4% of the cases and 4.3% had severe DKA. In children aged 0–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years DKA was present in 16.5%, 14.8% and 26.4%, respectively (P<0.001). Severe DKA occurred in 3.7%, 3.1% and 5.9% (P=0.048). DKA was present in 30.1% and severe DKA in 7.8% of children <2 years.

Conclusion — The overall frequency of DKA in children is low in Finland at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. However, both children <2 years and adolescents aged 10-14 years are at increased risk of DKA.