Persistent social disparities in the risk of hospital admission of paediatric diabetic patients in Germany-prospective data from 1277 diabetic children and adolescents

Health Care Services Utilization of Persons with Direct, Indirect and without Migration Background in Germany: A Longitudinal Study Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)

There is ambiguous evidence with regard to the inequalities in health care services utilization (HCSU) among migrants and non-migrants in Germany. The aim of this study was to analyze the utilization of doctors and hospitalization of persons with direct and indirect migration background as well as those without in Germany. This study was based on data of the German Socio-Economic Panel using the adult sample of the years 2013 to 2019. HCSU was measured by self-reported utilization of doctors and hospitalization. Associations between HCSU and migration background were examined using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression and zero-truncated multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models. The odds ratios of utilization of doctors and hospitalization for persons with direct migration background compared with persons without migration background were 0.73 (p < 0.001) and 0.79 (p = 0.002), respectively. A direct migration background was associated with a 6% lower number of doctoral visits within three months compared with no migration background (p = 0.023). Persons with direct migration background still have a lower HCSU than persons without migration background in Germany. Access to health care needs to be ensured and health policy-makers are called upon to keep focus on the issue of inequalities in HCSU between migrants and non-migrants in Germany.

Psychische Komorbiditäten bei Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen mit Typ-1-Diabetes

Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene mit Typ-1-Diabetes sind häufig von komorbiden psychischen Störungen betroffen. Dabei zeigt die Studienlage zur Verbreitung ein heterogenes und inkonsistentes Bild. Diagnose und Behandlung der somatopsychischen Begleiterkrankungen beeinflussen den Behandlungs- und Krankheitsverlauf sowie die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen. Trotzdem wird dies in der klinischen Praxis selten frühzeitig berücksichtigt. Das multizentrische Verbundprojekt COACH verfolgt das Ziel, die Erkennung und Behandlung psychischer Komorbidität für diese Zielgruppe in der bundesweiten Routineversorgung zu optimieren.

Risk of ketoacidosis in children at the time of diabetes mellitus diagnosis by primary caregiver status: a population-based retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the leading cause of death among children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and is an avoidable complication at first-time diagnosis of diabetes. Because having a usual provider of primary care is important in improving health outcomes for children, we tested the association between having a usual provider of care and risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of diabetes.

METHODS

Using linked health administrative data for the province of Quebec, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of children aged 1-17 years in whom diabetes was diagnosed from 2006 to 2015. We estimated adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis at the time of diabetes diagnosis in relation to usual provider of care (family physician, pediatrician or none) using Poisson regression models with robust error variance.

RESULTS

We identified 3704 new cases of diabetes in Quebec children from 2006 to 2015. Of these, 996 (26.9%) presented with diabetic ketoacidosis. A decreased risk of this complication was associated with having a usual provider of care; the association was stronger with increasing age, reaching statistical significance among those aged 12-17 years. Within this age group, those who had a family physician or a pediatrician were 31% less likely (adjusted RR 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.85) or 38% less likely (adjusted RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.86), respectively, to present with diabetic ketoacidosis, relative to those without a usual provider of care.

INTERPRETATION

For children with newly diagnosed diabetes, having a usual provider of care appears to be important in decreasing the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at the time of diabetes diagnosis. Our results provide further evidence concerning the need for initiatives that promote access to primary care for children.

Inequalities in health care utilization among migrants and non-migrants in Germany: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Despite the growing number of people with migrant background in Germany, a systematic review about their utilization of health care and differences to the non-migrant population is lacking. By covering various sectors of health care and migrant populations, the review aimed at giving a general overview and identifying special areas of potential intervention.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in PubMed database including records that were published until 1st of June 2017. Further criteria for eligibility were a publication in a peer-reviewed journal written in English or German language. The studies have to report quantitative and original data of a population residing in Germany. The appropriateness of the studies was judged by both authors. Studies were excluded if native controls were not originated from the same sample. Moreover, indicators of health care utilization have to assess individual behaviour like consultation or participation rates. 63 studies met the inclusion criteria for a qualitative synthesis of the findings.

RESULTS

The overall findings indicate a lower utilization among migrants, although the results vary in terms of health care sector, indicator of health care utilization and migrant population. For specialist care, medication use, therapist consultations and counselling, rehabilitation as well as disease prevention (early cancer detection, prevention programs for children and oral health check-ups) a lower utilization among people with migrant background was found. The lower usage was particularly shown for migrants of the 1st generation, people with two-sided migrant background, children/adolescents and women. Due to the methodological heterogeneity a meta-analysis was not feasible. As most of the studies were cross-sectional, no causal interpretations could be drawn.

CONCLUSIONS

The inequalities in utilization could not substantially be explained by differences in the socioeconomic status. Other reasons of lower utilization could be due to differences in need, preferences, information, language and formal access barriers (e.g. charges, waiting times, travel distances or lost wages). Different migrant-specific and migrant-sensitive strategies are relevant to address the problem for certain health care sectors and migrant populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO ( CRD42014015162 ).

Use of health services among international migrant children - a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Migrant children have specific health needs, and may face difficulties in accessing health care, but not enough is known about their health service use. This study aims to describe patterns of use of health services of international migrant children and differences to respective native populations.

METHODS

Electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science, references of identified publications, and websites of relevant international agencies were searched. We included observational studies published between 2006 and 2016 that reported use of formal health services by migrant children (0-18 years), including first and second generation migrants. Data on study characteristics, study theme, main outcome and study quality were extracted.

RESULTS

One hundred seven full texts were included in the review. Of the studies that reported comparable outcomes, half (50%) indicated less use of healthcare by migrants compared with non-migrants; 25% reported no difference, 18% reported greater use, and 7% did not report this outcome. There was variation by theme, so that the proportion of conclusions "less use" was most common in the categories "general access to care", "primary care" and "oral health", whereas in the use of emergency rooms or hospitalisations, the most common conclusion was "greater use".

CONCLUSIONS

Migrant children appear to use different types of healthcare services less than native populations, with the exception of emergency and hospital services.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO systematic review registration number: CRD42016039876 .

Outcomes associated with a pediatric clinical diabetes network in Ontario: a population-based time-trend analysis

BACKGROUND

The Network of Ontario Pediatric Diabetes Programs was implemented in 2001. The objective of this study was to determine whether implementation of the network was associated with a decrease in the risk of acute diabetes-related complications and a reduction in the socioeconomic and geographic disparities in these outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based time trend analysis of children (< 18 yr) with diabetes using health administrative databases in Ontario from 1996 to 2011. We determined the relation between network implementation and diabetes-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions using linear mixed-effects models with a Poisson link function.

RESULTS

Data for 13 806 children with established diabetes were analyzed. After the network was implemented, there was a significant decrease in the rate per 100 children of emergency department visits (17.0 in 2001 v. 10.00 in 2011, p < 0.001) and hospital admissions (8.8 v. 5.0, p < 0.001). The decrease was most significant for those in the lowest socioeconomic quintile and in urban areas. After network implementation, children in the lowest socioeconomic quintile remained at higher risk than those in the highest socioeconomic quintile for emergency department visits (adjusted rate ratio [RRafter] 1.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55 to 2.03]) and hospital admissions (RRafter 2.11 [95% CI 1.77 to 2.52]). However, the yearly decrease in rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for the lowest compared to the highest socioeconomic quintile shifted toward a decreasing disparity after network implementation (p < 0.05). Before the network was implemented, geographic location was not associated with outcomes. After implementation, the risk of emergency department visits among patients from urban areas was significantly lower than that among patients from rural areas.

INTERPRETATION

The establishment of a pediatric diabetes network was associated with better health outcomes, particularly for patients of lower socioeconomic status. Further work is needed to address the health care needs of those in rural areas.

The relation between awareness of personal resources and metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The study aims to elucidate whether awareness of personal resources, such as positive attributions and beliefs or social support, affects metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. In addition, it will be determined to what extent metabolic control is influenced by concordance between children and parents regarding awareness of resources and the parents' ability to adopt their children's perspective. Also, the children's wishes particularly in relation to their illness will be investigated, as well as the kind of advice they would offer to fellow patients.

METHODS

Seventy-eight children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes completed the Essen Resource Inventory for Children and Adolescents including personal, social, structural, and migration-specific resources. In addition, children/adolescents and their parents completed a systemic-oriented, diabetes-specific resource questionnaire in order to explore the parents' ability to adopt their children's perspective.

RESULTS

Resources such as body awareness and open-minded attitude to the disease were associated with metabolic control. Particularly, resources associated to a migration background were found to be inversely correlated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value. Moreover, it was shown that the parents' ability to adopt their children's perspective was associated with improved metabolic control. Children advising fellow patients to accept the disease showed the best HbA1c value.

DISCUSSION

This data identified specific modifiable factors related to metabolic control that can be addressed during counseling of pediatric patients. Also the parents' ability for adopting their child's perspective was identified as a relevant factor which should be considered during clinical counseling of young type 1 diabetes patients.

Impact of Maternal Country of Birth on Type-1-Diabetes Therapy and Outcome in 27,643 Children and Adolescents from the DPV Registry

Objective

To study the impact of maternal country of birth on type-1-diabetes (T1D) therapy and outcome.

Study Design and Methods

27,643 T1D patients aged ≤20 years with documented maternal country of birth from the multicenter German/Austrian diabetes patient registry (DPV) were analyzed. Patients were categorized based on their mother’s origin: Germany/Austria (reference), Turkey, Southern Europe, and Eastern Europe. To compare BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), diabetes therapy and outcome between groups, multivariable regression was applied with adjustments for age, sex and duration of diabetes. Based on observed marginal frequencies, adjusted estimates were calculated. Linear regression was used for continuous data, logistic regression for binary data and Poisson regression for count data. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.4. Significance was set at a two-tailed p<0.05.

Results

83.3% of patients were offspring of native mothers. A Turkish, Southern or Eastern European background was documented in 2.4%, 1.7% and 4.3% of individuals. After demographic adjustment, patients with migration background had a higher mean BMI-SDS (Turkey, Southern Europe or Eastern Europe vs. Germany/Austria: 0.58±0.03, 0.40±0.04, or 0.37±0.02 vs. 0.31±0.01; ±SE) and a lower use of insulin pumps (26.8%, 27.9%, or 32.6% vs. 37.9%) compared to offspring of native mothers. Mean HbA1c was worst in individuals of Turkish mothers (Turkey vs. Germany/Austria: 69.7±0.7 vs. 66.6±0.1 mmol/mol; ±SE). Patients of Eastern European descent had an increased rate of severe hypoglycemia (22.09±0.13 vs. 16.13±0.02 events per 100 patient-years) and ketoacidosis was more prevalent in offspring of Turkish or Southern European mothers (7.50±0.10, or 7.13±0.11 vs. 6.54±0.02 events per 100 patient-years). Patients of Turkish descent were more often hospitalized (57.2±2.7 vs. 48.5±0.4 per 100 patient-years). All differences were significant.

Conclusion

The differences in diabetes therapy and outcome among patients with distinct migration background suggest that specific challenges have to be considered in clinical care.

Lower frequency of insulin pump treatment in children and adolescents of Turkish background with type 1 diabetes: analysis of 21,497 patients in Germany

AIM

This study investigated insulin pump therapy in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes and Turkish origin compared with those without migration background in Germany.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Using a nationwide documentation program, we estimated the prevalence of insulin pump therapy in patients < 20 years of age with Turkish origin and those without migration background. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, sex, diabetes duration, body mass index SD score (BMI-SDS), glycated hemoglobin, number of outpatient visits, number of daily blood glucose self-measurements, and area-based socioeconomic conditions.

RESULTS

In 1,695 pediatric type 1 diabetes patients with Turkish background and 19,802 patients without migration background (respectively: 51.2% and 53.0% boys; mean age, 12.4 ± 4.1 and 12.6 ± 4.2 years; mean diabetes duration, 4.7 ± 3.9 and 5.3 ± 4.0 years), fully adjusted prevalences of insulin pump therapy were 18.5% and 30.9%, respectively (odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.60, P < 0.001). Age, sex, BMI-SDS, outpatient visits, and blood glucose self-control were significantly associated with the prevalence of insulin pump therapy but did not alter the difference substantially.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of insulin pump therapy is roughly half among pediatric diabetes patients with Turkish background compared with those without migration background. Several covariates could not explain this difference. Individual characteristics or access barriers within the healthcare system may play a role. Further research is needed.

The relationship between social support, shared decision-making and patient's trust in doctors: a cross-sectional survey of 2,197 inpatients using the Cologne Patient Questionnaire

OBJECTIVES

Empirical studies have confirmed that a trusting physician-patient interaction promotes patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment and improved health outcomes. The objective of this analysis was to investigate the relationship between social support, shared decision-making and inpatient's trust in physicians in a hospital setting.

METHODS

A written questionnaire was completed by 2,197 patients who were treated in the year 2000 in six hospitals in Germany. Logistic regression was performed with a dichotomized index for patient's trust in physicians.

RESULTS

The logistic regression model identified significant relationships (p < 0.05) in terms of emotional support (standardized effect coefficient [sc], 3.65), informational support (sc, 1.70), shared decision-making (sc, 1.40), age (sc, 1.14), socioeconomic status (sc, 1.15) and gender (sc, 1.15). We found no significant relationship between 'tendency to excuse' and trust. The last regression model accounted for 49.1% of Nagelkerke's R-square.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient physician communication skills can lead to extensive negative effects on the trust of patients in their physicians. Thus, it becomes clear that medical support requires not only biomedical, but also psychosocial skills.

Transition to adult care for youths with diabetes mellitus: findings from a Universal Health Care System

OBJECTIVES

The goals were (1) to describe rates of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related hospitalizations and retinopathy screening before and after transition to adult care and (2) to test whether different methods of transfer of care were associated with improved outcomes.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, we included 1507 young adults with DM of >or=5-year duration and tracked these patients until 20 years of age.

RESULTS

DM-related hospitalization rates increased from 7.6 to 9.5 cases per 100 patient-years in the 2 years after transition to adult care (P = .03). Previous DM-related hospitalizations, lower income, female gender, and living in areas with low physician supply were associated with higher admission rates. With controlling for all other factors, individuals who were transferred to a new allied health care team with no change in physician were 23% less likely (relative risk: 0.23 [95% confidence interval: 0.05-0.79]) to be hospitalized after the transition than were those transferred to a new physician with either a new or no allied health care team. The rates of eye examinations were stable across the transition to adult care (72% vs 70%; P = .06). Female patients, patients with higher income, and patients with previous eye care were more likely to have an eye care visit after transfer.

CONCLUSIONS

During the transition to adult health care, there is increased risk of DM-related hospitalizations, although this may be attenuated in youths for whom there is physician continuity. Eye care visits were not related to transition; however, rates were below evidence-based guideline recommendations.

Hospitalization subsequent to diagnosis in young patients with diabetes in Chicago, Illinois

OBJECTIVES

Rehospitalization after a diabetes diagnosis in youth signals the failure of outpatient management. We examined risk factors for rehospitalization among young patients with diabetes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We queried 535 participants diagnosed before 18 years of age from the Chicago Childhood Diabetes Registry. Demographic, social, and clinical data were used in logistic models of diabetes-related rehospitalization, as well as, among those rehospitalized, frequent (> or = once per 2 years' duration) versus infrequent rehospitalization rates.

RESULTS

Mean (range) duration was 5.1 years (0.1-19.2 years). The sample was 55% non-Hispanic black, 11% non-Hispanic white, 26% Hispanic, and 7% other/mixed race; 86% had presumed type 1 diabetes; and 47% were underinsured. Overall, 46% reported rehospitalization for diabetes. In multivariable logistic regression, ever being rehospitalized was significantly associated with diabetes duration (per year, odds ratio [OR]: 1.26; P < .01), female gender (OR: 1.67; P = .01), underinsurance (versus private insurance; OR: 1.79; P < .01), presumed phenotype (non-type 1 diabetes versus type 1; OR: 0.32; P < .01), and diagnosis at a community hospital (versus tertiary care facility; OR: 1.96; P < .01) and tended to be higher for those of nonwhite race (OR: 1.94; P = .07). Among those rehospitalized, multivariable associations with frequent rehospitalization were presumed phenotype (non-type 1 diabetes versus type 1; OR: 2.74; P = .04), head of household not working (versus employed; OR: 1.88; P = .02), and younger age at questionnaire (per year; OR: 0.94; P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Rehospitalization is common in young patients with diabetes, especially for those with limited resources, indicating the need for improved outpatient services. Comprehensive initial education and support available to young patients with diabetes diagnosed at tertiary care facilities and their families may have lasting protective effects.