Depression Rates in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data From the T1D Exchange Quality...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management requires continuous self-care, posing potential mental health challenges.
• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented stressors, potentially impacting the mental well-being of adolescents with chronic conditions.
• Understanding depression prevalence and risk factors in youth with T1D during the pandemic is crucial for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the rates of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in youth with T1D before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among these youth during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative.
• Compared depression screening rates pre-pandemic versus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Analyzed characteristics of youth screening positive for depression during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• Rates of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms remained stable, ranging from 9.6% to 10.7% before and during the pandemic.
• During the pandemic, youth screening positive for depression were more likely to be female, have public insurance, higher A1C levels, and a history of diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia.
• Youth screening positive for depression were less likely to identify as non-Hispanic White and more likely to identify as Hispanic.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly alter the overall prevalence of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in youth with T1D.
• Specific subgroups, including females, those with public insurance, higher glycemic burden (A1C), and a history of diabetes complications, faced higher risks.
• The findings highlight the importance of tailored mental health screening and support for vulnerable populations of adolescents with T1D, particularly during public health crises.