To analyze the influence of SARS-CoV-2 virus on initial manifestation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and patterns of risk factors for disease development in children.
Key Findings:
T1D incidence increased by 37.6% during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia (p < 0.001).
Children with a history of COVID-19 had a more severe initial manifestation of T1D, indicated by lower pH levels at admission (p = 0.04).
No correlation was found between severe clinical presentation and delayed hospital arrival.
Lower prevalence of T1D was noted among family members of patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
Interpretation:
Patients with prior COVID-19 exposure exhibited more severe T1D manifestations, independent of pandemic-related healthcare access issues.
Limitations:
The study's retrospective nature may introduce selection bias.
The control group was augmented retrospectively to balance numbers, which could affect data integrity.
Conclusion:
Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is associated with more severe initial manifestations of T1D in children, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.
