Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Youth with Diabetes in the Dominican Republic, 2000 to 2016

Abstract

Objective: The incidence of Type 2 diabetes is growing among adults in the Dominican Republic (DR), with little data regarding diabetes among youth. Our primary objecti-ves were to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric diabetes patients in the DR. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 874 pediatric diabetes patients from 2000-2016. Data were abstracted and analyzed using SAS. Results: The number of pediatric patients seen in the diabetes clinic grew over the study period, with an increasing proportion with Type 2 (0-35%). A majority of our population was female (56%), with a median age of 11.7 years, and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (80%). Patients with Type 1 were younger (10 vs. 13, p < 0.0001), male (46% vs. 34%, p = 0.0045), and more often hospitalized (43% vs. 21%, p < 0.0001). Patients with Type 2 were more likely to have a first-degree relative with diabetes (14% vs. 50%, p < 0.0001). Nearly half of patients were overweight or obese; this proportion was higher for those with Type 2 (37% vs. 74%, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Pediatric patients with Type 2 diabetes are proportionally increasing in the DR. The study findings can inform policies, programs, and future research on diabetes among youth globally.