EVALUATION OF THE MEDICAL CARE MODEL FOR CHILDREN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS CARRIED OUT USING MOBILE APP AND REMOTE CONSULTATIONS. TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AND THEIR FAMILIES UNDER THE «ALFA-ENDO» CHARITY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH ENDOCRINE DISEASES

Abstract

Telemedicine technologies in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is an effective approach that have begun to be used recently. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the possibility and effectiveness of remote observation and training of children with newly diagnosed T1D in selected Russia regions. Materials and methods used: a multicenter prospective open uncontrolled experimental clinical study involved 92 children aged 1 to 18 y/o with T1D receiving intensified insulin therapy who were divided into two groups: G1 of 60 patients with T1D manifestation of less than 12 weeks prior to the inclusion in the study, and G2 of 32 children with T1D manifestation lasting over 12 weeks prior to the inclusion with poor disease control (glycated hemoglobin at 8% and above) from troubled families. The main indicator for evaluating the effectiveness was the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Results: median age was 9.2 (6.2-11.2) y/o, 47 boys/45 girls. A total of 401 remote consultations had been carried out in various forms. The HbA1c level decreased statistically significantly by the end of the study by 3.5% and 0.6% (p<0.001) in G1 and G2, respectively. Statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in the number of patients with HbA1c at the level of less than 7% was reached, with most of them (52%) reaching the target glycemic control parameters. Telemedicine technologies therefore represent the effective (in terms of glycemic control) addition to the traditional dispensary observation, which in its turn increases the availability of medical care for children with endocrine diseases.