A new study published in Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that children and adolescents born in Sweden with type 1 diabetes (T1D) exhibit small disparities in educational attainment, but those with comorbid T1D and mental illness experience low long-term educational performance compared to their healthy peers.
According to research, children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a higher risk of psychological illness than their peers without diabetes. However, no systematic studies have been conducted to investigate whether having mental illness is related to educational outcomes in children and adolescents with T1DM. As a result, Shengxin Liu and colleagues undertook this study to assess educational outcomes in children and adolescents with T1D who also had mental health problems.
Data from different Swedish registries were used in this cohort research. Subjects born in Sweden between January 1, 1973 and December 31, 1997 were included in the primary study group and followed from birth to December 31, 2013. Data analysis was performed between March 1 and June 30, 2013. 2022. Type 1 diabetes and psychiatric conditions (including neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, psychotic illness, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse) diagnosed before age 16 were considered serious exposures. The main goals were to achieve educational milestones and perform well in compulsory school.
The main conclusions of this study were:
1. T1D was diagnosed in 13,294 people out of 2,454,862 (51.3% male), with an additional 1,012 (7.6%) having at least one mental condition.
2. Individuals with only DM1 showed somewhat reduced probabilities of reaching the investigated educational milestones when compared to healthy people.
3. Those with T1D and any psychiatric illness, on the other hand, were significantly less likely to complete compulsory education, be eligible for and complete high school, and start and finish university.
4. They also had lower grade point averages in required school subjects.
5. In sibling comparison studies, these findings were consistent, indicating independence from familial interference.
These findings emphasize the need to detect mental problems in pediatric T1D patients, as well as the need for specific educational support and intervention to close the educational gap between affected children and their peers.
Source:
Liu S., Ludvigsson JF, Lichtenstein P., Gudbjörnsdottir S., Taylor MJ, Larsson H., Kuja-Halkola R., & Butwicka A. (2023). Educational outcomes in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and psychiatric disorders. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 6, Issue 4, p. e238135). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.8135