The role of socio-economic and clinical factors on HbA1c in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an Italian multicentre survey

Objective: To identify the role of the family's socio-economic and clinical characteristics on metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods: In this cross-sectional, multicentre study, 768 subjects with type 1 diabetes under 18 years of age were consecutively recruited from January 2008 to February 2009. Target condition was considered for HbA_1c values <7.5% (<58 mmol/mol). A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was performed to analyze the association between the socio-economic and clinical characteristics of the participants. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the subjects metabolic control. In both analyses, the family's socio-economic status was represented, measured by the Hollingshead Four-Factor Index of Social Status (SES) or by parental years of education. Results: A total of 28.1% of subjects reached target HbA1c values. The MCA identified a strong association between at-target condition and several factors: high levels of SES or high levels of parental education, the use of the carbohydrate counting system, the use of insulin pumps, the use of the insulin delivery system over a short period of time, a normal body mass index. The logistic regression analysis showed that SES and the mother's years of education were significantly associated with the target condition [odds ratio (OR): 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.03, p = 0.029; OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10, p = 0.027, respectively). Conclusions: Personal, clinical, and family characteristics were found to be associated with HbA_1c target. Their identification can be crucial in addressing strategies to optimize metabolic control and improve diabetes management.