BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T1D Exchange today announced the launch of a population health surveillance study of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are suspected or confirmed to have contracted Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The results of the study will be used to better understand the etiology and potential outcomes in COVID-19 patients and inform future clinical quality improvement activities to better respond to the global pandemic.
The ongoing outbreak of the novel respiratory disease, COVID-19, has become a significant threat to global health and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill. According to recent data from the American Diabetes Association, individuals with uncontrolled diabetes are more likely to have worse outcomes and in particular, for individuals with T1D, an infection could lead to severe adverse outcomes such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and other serious complications, or possibly even death.
“T1D Exchange believes in the power of collecting and translating real-world experiences into actionable solutions to improve care and this is underscored in the launch of this important study,” said David Walton, CEO of T1D Exchange. “We believe this is the first study that investigates the prevalence, presentation and outcomes of COVID-19 specifically on those living with type 1 diabetes, and the findings will be critical to inform the future of treatment and care.”
The study is starting with 35 diabetes clinics, including the 14 member clinics of T1D Exchange’s Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC), all of whom have already signed up to share ongoing COVID-19 data. Clinics do not need to be members of the QI Collaborative (QIC) to take part in this study. For clinics interested in joining the study please visit: www.t1dexchange.org/covid19 or contact us at QI@T1DExchange.org.
Lead authors of the study are Dr. Osagie Ebekozien, Vice President, Population Health and Quality Improvement, at T1D Exchange, Dr. Guy Todd Alonso, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Dr. Mary Pat Gallagher, Pediatric Diabetes Center, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Health.
“We are encouraged by the number of clinics that have already signed up to be part of this study and we expect this number to grow as we all work together to redefine best practices and improve the quality of care,” said Dr. Ebekozien at T1D Exchange. “We are addressing a missing but critical gap on the clinical impact of COVID-19 in individuals with T1D, and understanding and cataloging clinical characteristics of those who may have contracted COVID-19 will be essential for preparing best practices and management strategies moving forward.”
Study sponsorship opportunities are still available and organizations looking to sponsor the study or more information, please contact Charles Iacono at ciacono@T1DExchange.org.
Questions about the T1D COVID 19 study or how to join the T1D Exchange QI Collaborative can be directed to QI@T1DExchange.org.
About Type 1 Diabetes
T1D is an autoimmune condition in which an individual’s body is unable to produce insulin. The disease affects approximately 1.6 million people in the U.S., with an estimated 40,000 new people diagnosed each year. Neither preventable nor curable, living with T1D requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels and unparalleled attention to care to avoid the acute dangers caused by hypoglycemia, in which blood sugar drops too low, or the long term implications of hyperglycemia, in which blood sugar rises too high.
About the Quality Improvement Collaborative
The Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC) brings together 14 clinics, situated across the US and treating more than 28,000 individuals with type 1 diabetes. The QIC has achieved unprecedented success because it relies on an embedded and systemic approach: individual providers are empowered to identify areas of unmet need within their clinic. They make small changes in care that scale up through the QIC to create best practices, which are then shared among and implemented by members at other clinics.
The T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative is funded by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
About T1D Exchange
T1D Exchange is a leading provider of real-world evidence, dedicated to improving care for people affected by T1D. T1D Exchange actively supports quality improvement and innovation through its Quality Improvement Collaborative, online patient registry, and data-centric research services. It plays an active role in creating real-world impact with this integrated data by providing clinicians, researchers, industry partners and advocates with the resources and services they need for better decision support and population health management.
