National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) national report 2020/21: Care processes and outcomes (8 April 2022)

Summary

The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) is performed annually in England and Wales and aims to provide information that leads to improved quality care for children and young people affected by diabetes. The audit is funded by the Department of Health through the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP).

Key messages in this 2020-21 annual report on care processes and outcomes include:

• There was an increase of an increase of 20.7% in the number of children aged 0-15 diagnosed with type 1 diabetes compared with 2019-20.
• Completion rates on recommended health checks were lower than in previous years due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was wide variation between paediatric diabetes units in the completion rates of all key annual health checks.
• A smaller percentage of newly-diagnosed children and young people started insulin pump therapy compared to previous years.
• The national median HbA1c (a measure of blood glucose control) reduced from 61.5 mmol/mol to 61.0mmol/mol between 2019/20 and 2020/21, following several years of year on year decreases (improvement) in the national median.
• Children from ethnic minorities were less likely to be using insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) than white children. However, the highest percentage increase between audit years in the use of CGMs was seen in black children and young people with type 1 diabetes.