The SWEET Project 10-Year Benchmarking in 19 Countries Worldwide Is Associated with Improved HbA1c and Increased Use of Diabetes Technology in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: The international SWEET registry (NCT04427189) was initiated in 2008 to improve outcomes in pediatric diabetes. A 10-year follow-up allowed studying time trends of key quality indicators in 22 centers from Europe, Australia, Canada, and India in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Aggregated data per person with T1D <25 years of age were compared between 2008-2010 and 2016-2018. Hierarchic linear and logistic regression models were applied. Models were adjusted for gender, age-, and diabetes duration groups. Results: The first and second time periods included 4930 versus 13,654 persons, 51% versus 52% male, median age 11.3 [Q1; Q3: 7.9; 14.5] versus 13.3 [9.7; 16.4] years, and T1D duration 2.9 [0.8; 6.4] versus 4.2 [1.4; 7.7] years. The adjusted hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) improved from 68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 66-70) to 63 (60; 65) mmol/mol (P < 0.0001) or 8.4 (95% CI: 8.2-8.6) to 7.9 (7.6; 8.1) % (P < 0.0001). Across all age groups, HbA1c was significantly lower in pump and sensor users. Severe hypoglycemia declined from 3.8% (2.9; 5.0) to 2.4% (1.9; 3.1) (P < 0.0001), whereas diabetic ketoacidosis events increased significantly with injection therapy only. Body mass index-standard deviation score also showed significant improvements 0.55 (0.46; 0.64) versus 0.42 (0.33; 0.51) (P < 0.0001). Over time, the increase in pump use from 34% to 44% preceded the increase in HbA1c target achievement (<53 mmol/mol) from 21% to 34%. Conclusions: Twice yearly benchmarking within the SWEET registry was associated with significantly improved HbA1c on a background of increasing pump and sensor use for 10 years in young persons with T1D. Trial Registration: NCT04427189.