Jh. Baumer et al., SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE, FAMILY COMPOSITION, AND DIABETES-MELLITUS - PREVALENCE AND OUTCOME, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 79(5), 1998, pp. 427-430
Objective-To investigate the relation between social disadvantage and
family composition on diabetes prevalence and diabetes care outcome. D
esign-Retrospective audit in the south west of England of 801 children
with diabetes mellitus. Main outcome measures-Prevalence of diabetes
in relation to the Townsend index. Admissions to hospital with diabete
s related problems, glycated haemoglobin, time spent in hospital, outp
atient attendance rates. Results-There was no association between soci
al status and diabetes prevalence. Social deprivation increased the li
kelihood of admission for hypoglycaemia. Children living with a single
parent were more likely to be admitted to hospital with a diabetes re
lated problem and stay in hospital longer. Having either a parent with
diabetes or a single parent increased the rates of clinic nonattendan
ce. No association was identified between medium term diabetes control
and either social disadvantage or single parent status. Conclusions-S
ocial disadvantage has no effect on diabetes prevalence and little on
diabetes outcome in childhood. Family structure and parental diabetes
have adverse effects on some aspects of diabetes outcome.