ESPE Abstracts

Background: Suboptimal glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes, measured by HbA1c, increases the risk for long-term complications.

Aims and objectives: To calculate and compare glycaemic control in children with Type 1 Diabetes in Malta in 2013 and 2014. To identify any need to change the way services are structured and delivered.

Methods: Almost all diabetic children less than 16 years of age in Malta fall under the same paediatric diabetes team, based at the main state hospital. The demographic and clinical data of all patients newly diagnosed with T1DM are collected on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and updated annually. The average HbA1c of all measurements taken every 3 months with an HbA1c analyser is calculated.

Results: In 2013, 43.8% (95% CI 35–52%) of our patients achieved a target HbA1c of <7.5%. Another 26.6% (95% CI 19–34%) achieved an HbA1c of 7.5 – 8% which still reflects relatively good control. The percentage of patients with an HbA1c of >9.5% was 4.6% (95% CI 1–8%). The mean HbA1c was 7.69±0.16%. Boys had a mean HbA1c of 7.76±0.19% while girls had a mean HbA1c of 7.59±0.26%. The mean HbA1c in the 0–10.9 year age group was 7.53±0.16% with a comparable mean HbA1c in boys of 7.51±0.23% and in girls of 7.55±0.28%. The mean HbA1c in the 11–16 year age group was 7.85±0.26%. The boys had a mean HbA1c of 8.04±0.3% while girls had a better mean HbA1c of 7.63±0.44%. In 2014, 49.6% (95% CI 41–58%) of our patients achieved an HbA1c of <7.5%. 18.9% (95%CI 12–26%) achieved an HbA1c of 7.5 – 8%. 3.9% (95% CI 0.6–7.3%) had an HbA1c of >9.5%. The mean HbA1c was 7.67±0.17%. The mean HbA1c in the 0–10.9 year age group and in the 11-15.9 year age group were comparable to the 2013 data.

Conclusion: Glycaemic control in our cohort of patients was similar in both years. The results are compared to other European data.