Adolescents with diabetes had abnormal autonomic test results in 28% of cases (expected 18.5%), but diabetes duration and glycaemic control had no independent effect on neurological function.
Observational (n=303)
Are there differences in autonomic and peripheral nerve function between adolescents with and without diabetes?
Adolescents with diabetes show some autonomic test abnormalities, but neurological function in this age group appears primarily driven by age and gender rather than diabetes duration or glycemic control.
Absolute Event Rate: 28% vs 18.5%
In this study reference ranges were established for autonomic and peripheral nerve tests in 122 non-diabetic adolescents. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of age and gender on neurological function. Increasing age was associated with: less heart rate variability during deep breathing (p = 0.03), higher thermal threshold for cold at the wrist (p = 0.009), and higher vibration threshold at the toe (p = 0.001) and medial malleolus (p = 0.01). Male gender was associated with higher Valsalva ratio (p = 0.0004), higher thermal threshold for hot at the foot (p = 0.002), and higher vibration threshold at the malleolus (p = 0.03). The REFVAL programme was used to determine parametric or non-parametric reference limits: the 5% limits for autonomic and 95% limits for peripheral tests. One hundred and eighty-one adolescents with diabetes were studied under identical conditions and similar effects of age and gender were found. Twenty-eight percent of the group with diabetes had at least one abnormal autonomic test result out of four (expected 18.5%); 24% had at least one abnormal peripheral test result out of six (expected 26.5%). Glycaemic control was associated with autonomic (p = 0.04) but not peripheral abnormalities. Using multiple regression analysis and adjusting for age and gender, there was no effect of diabetes duration or glycaemic control on neurological function.
Donaghue et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Diabetes (n=303). Diabetes vs. Without diabetes was evaluated on At least one abnormal autonomic test result out of four. Adolescents with diabetes had abnormal autonomic test results in 28% of cases (expected 18.5%), but diabetes duration and glycaemic control had no independent effect on neurological function.