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Updated: Sep 28, 2025

A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
Increased anxiety symptoms in pediatric type 1 diabetes during the acute phase of COVID-19 lockdown
Caroline Wade1, Elvin Thomaseo Burton2,3, Leah Akinseye3
1College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
Objectives:
The prevalence of mental health issues has increased at an alarming rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, an exacerbated psychosocial burden in populations with chronic disease is observed. This cross-sectional study evaluated the psychosocial factors of pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
During April 2020, 15 min phone interviews were performed for pediatric T1D group (n=100) and healthy comparison group (n=93) to assess psychosocial functioning during the acute lockdown phase of the pandemic. The patient health questionnaire-4 was utilized to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms. An additional questionnaire to assess specific concerns related to T1D and COVID-19 was administered to the T1D group to explore potential causes for increased psychosocial burden.
Results:
T1D was associated with a five-times higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Increased anxiety symptoms in T1D group appear to be, at least in part, due to fear of higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection and uncertainty regarding access to diabetes supplies.
Conclusions:
This study provides a snapshot of mental well-being in a diverse population of patients with T1D in the acute phase of a crisis and underscores the need for timely, accurate medical information and distribution of medical resources for pediatric T1D population.
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