Diabetic ketoacidosis incidence in children at first presentation of type 1 diabetes at an Australian regional hospital: The effect of health professional education.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute life threatening, resource intensive preventable complication of type 1 diabetes which has major biopsychosocial effects on patients and families. Incidence of pediatric DKA has been studied nationally and internationally in metropolitan centers. This study analyzed the DKA incidence at first presentation of type 1 diabetes at Townsville Hospital, before and after an educational intervention. This is the first study of its kind in a regional center in Queensland, Australia.

METHOD: The inclusion criteria consisted of children (0-18 years) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes from January, 2006 to December, 2016. Medical and laboratory patient data was retrospectively collected. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS. Education sessions were delivered to health professionals by a pediatric endocrinologist during 2015 and 2016. DKA and its severity were defined by the International Society of Pediatric Diabetes 2014 Guidelines.

RESULTS: In total, 106 patients met inclusion criteria. Average incidence of DKA at first presentation of type 1 diabetes was 48.10%. Pre- and post-intervention incidences were 54.90% and 25%, respectively (P = 0.01). DKA severity pre- and post-intervention were severe (48.88%, 33.33%), moderate (26.67%, 16.67%), and mild (24.44%, 50%), respectively (P = 0.53).

CONCLUSIONS: DKA incidence at first presentation of type 1 diabetes prior to intervention, is higher than that reported by other studies in Australia: Brisbane (31.8%) and Sydney (37.7%). DKA incidence at first presentation of type 1 diabetes decreased significantly during the period of health professional education.