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From pandemic to pancreas: Unmasking COVID-19's impact on type 1 diabetes development

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

September 18, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM

COVID-19, Diabetes Mellitus, Non communicable diseases

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

  • A recent study examined whether there was a relationship between COVID-19 infection and the development of islet cell autoantibodies in people with a higher genetic risk.

  • Increased genetic risk was defined as a risk of developing multiple islet autoantibodies by the age of six that was greater than 10%.

  • A total of 1050 children aged 4–7 months were enrolled in the study, of which 885 were finally involved.

  • The findings of the study are as follows:

  1. At a median age of 18 months, 19.2% of the 885 people tested positive for SARS-COV-2 antibodies.

  2. In addition, 60 participants developed islet cell autoantibodies.

  3. Six of those who developed autoantibodies were also positive for SARS-COV2 antibodies, and another six were positive 2-6 months after the SARS-COV2 antibodies became positive.

  • The islet cell autoantibody incidence was calculated as follows:

  1. In children without SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the rate was 3.5 (95% CI, 2.2 to 5.1) per 100 person-years.

  2. In children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the rate was 7.8 (95% CI, 5.3 to 19.0) per 100 person-years.

  3. The hazard ratio was higher in children under 18. [HR: 5.3; 95% CI: 1.5 to 18.3].

  • The study found that COVID-19 was linked to a higher risk of developing islet cell autoantibodies in people with a higher genetic risk.

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