A new study shows that COVID-19 infections in children lead to a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes within six months, sparking fresh concerns about the long-term impacts of the virus on young populations. Study: SARS-CoV-2 Infection and New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Among Pediatric Patients, 2020 to 2022 . Image Credit: Neirfy / Shutterstock In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open , researchers at Case Western Reserve University, USA, assessed the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children.
SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with subsequent chronic illnesses. A meta-analysis reported a 66% increased risk of new-onset diabetes in adults after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several reports suggest this risk is much greater in males and those with severe COVID-19.
Moreover, increased diabetes incidence post-COVID-19 has been reported among people younger than 18. Some studies have also noted associations between COVID-19 and the risk of new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children. In addition, increases in other disorders post-COVID-19, such as myocarditis, multisystem inflammatory syndrome, etc.
, have been documented in children. T2D incidence rates in children had increased worldwide before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research on T2D incidence post-COVID-19 in children has been limited.
About the study Autoimmune components of T2D: The study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may tr.
