Regional Disparities in Diabetes Care for Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. A Cross-sectional DPV Multicenter Analysis of 24 928 German Children and Adolescents

Background: Data on regional differences in the quality of medical care in Germany are scarce. This study aimed to compare outcome quality and medical treatment of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes between the federal states of Germany. Methods: 24 928 patients (< 18 years of age) with type 1 diabetes and German residence were selected from the Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation database. Indicators of outcome quality were HbA(1C), overweight prevalence, and rate of severe hypoglycemia. To reflect medical treatment, use of insulin pumps and use of rapid-acting or long-acting insulin analogues were analyzed. Logistic regression models were created for binary variables with federal state as independent predictor. Linear regression was applied for HbA(1C) and Poisson regression for rate of severe hypoglycemia. Confounders: Sex, age, diabetes duration, migratory background. Results: Disparity was observed for indicators of outcome quality between the 16 federal states of Germany (all p < 0.05). After adjustment, HbA(1C) varied between 55.8 mmol/mol and 67.3 mmol/mol, overweight prevalence between 10.0 and 15.3 %, severe hypoglycemia ranged from 0.06 events/PY to 0.21 events/PY. Overall, the best outcome quality appeared to be present in Saxony. Medical treatment also differed. The percentage of pediatrics on insulin pumps varied between 26.3 and 51.8 %. The use of rapid-acting analogues ranged from 56.6 to 96.2 % and the use of long-acting analogues varied between 41.9 and 96.9 % (all p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Medical treatment and outcome quality in pediatrics with type 1 diabetes differed within Germany. Disparities in individual socioeconomic status, regional deprivation, or differences in medical reimbursement decisions might have contributed to the patterns observed.