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Child dental caries (i.e., cavities) are a major preventable health problem in most high-income countries. The aim of this study was to compare the extent of inequalities in child dental caries across four high-income countries alongside their child oral health policies. Coordinated analyses of data were conducted across four prospective population-based birth cohorts (Australia, n = 4085, born 2004; Québec, Canada, n = 1253, born 1997; Rotterdam, the Netherlands, n = 6690, born 2002; Southeast Sweden, n = 7445, born 1997), which enabled a high degree of harmonization. Risk ratios (adjusted) and slope indexes of inequality were estimated to quantify social gradients in child dental caries according to maternal education and household income. Children in the least advantaged quintile for income were at greater risk of caries, compared to the most advantaged quintile: Australia: AdjRR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.04–1.34; Québec: AdjRR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.36–2.10; Rotterdam: AdjRR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.36–2.04; Southeast Sweden: AdjRR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.10–1.71). There was a higher risk of caries for children of mothers with the lowest level of education, compared to the highest: Australia: AdjRR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.01–1.38; Southeast Sweden: AdjRR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.81–2.96; Rotterdam: AdjRR = 1.98, 95%CI = 1.71–2.30; Québec: AdjRR = 1.16, 95%CI = 0.98–1.37. The extent of inequalities varied in line with jurisdictional policies for provision of child oral health services and preventive public health measures. Clear gradients of social inequalities in child dental caries are evident in high-income countries. Policy related mechanisms may contribute to the differences in the extent of these inequalities. Lesser gradients in settings with combinations of universal dental coverage and/or fluoridation suggest these provisions may ameliorate inequalities through additional benefits for socio-economically disadvantaged groups of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: In people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), nocturnal hypoglycaemia (NH) can be slept through and can cause seizures, arrhythmias and death. Hypoglycaemia avoidance can induce hyperglycaemia and ketosis. Patient behaviour impacts clinical outcomes and may be changed by education. Aim: To develop and utilise a survey to evaluate patient self‐management of overnight glycaemia in adults with T1D. Methods: Adults with T1D attending two Australian tertiary referral diabetes clinics completed a survey about their diabetes self‐management and glycaemic control, including responses to hypothetical pre‐bed blood glucose (BG) levels (4–20 mmol/L). Statistical analyses included t‐tests, Chi square tests and ANOVA with significance considered at P < 0.05. Results: There were 205 participants (103 females), with a mean (SD) age of 41 (17) years, T1D duration of 20 (16) years, HbA1c of 7.8(1.4)%, (61.3(8.2) mmol/mol), 38% on insulin pump therapy (CSII) and 36% with impaired hypoglycaemia awareness (IHA). Mean (SD) number of BG tests/day was 5.4 (2.7). Patients set higher BG target levels at bedtime and overnight: 7.5(1.4) and 7.1(1.3) mmol/L, respectively, compared to daytime (6.9(1.0); P < 0.0001 and P = 0.002 respectively). Only 36% of participants reported treating nocturnal hypoglycaemia (NH) with the recommended refined, then complex, carbohydrate. Only 28% of patients made safe choices in all bedtime BG scenarios, with higher rates for CSII users, P = 0.0005. Further education was desired by 32% of respondents, with higher rates in those with (44%) versus without IHA (25%), P = 0.006. Conclusions: Many adults with T1D have suboptimal knowledge and behaviour regarding overnight BG self‐management. A survey, piloted herein, may facilitate the identification of patients who could benefit from further education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between childhood growth measures and risk of developing islet autoimmunity (IA) and type 1 diabetes in children with an affected first-degree relative and increased HLA-conferred risk. We hypothesised that being overweight or obese during childhood is associated with a greater risk of IA and type 1 diabetes., Methods: Participants in a randomised infant feeding trial (N = 2149) were measured at 12 month intervals for weight and length/height and followed for IA (at least one positive out of insulin autoantibodies, islet antigen-2 autoantibody, GAD autoantibody and zinc transporter 8 autoantibody) and development of type 1 diabetes from birth to 10-14 years. In this secondary analysis, Cox proportional hazard regression models were adjusted for birthweight and length z score, sex, HLA risk, maternal type 1 diabetes, mode of delivery and breastfeeding duration, and stratified by residence region (Australia, Canada, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Central Europe and the USA). Longitudinal exposures were studied both by time-varying Cox proportional hazard regression and by joint modelling. Multiple testing was considered using family-wise error rate at 0.05., Results: In the Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) population, 305 (14.2%) developed IA and 172 (8%) developed type 1 diabetes. The proportions of children overweight (including obese) and obese only were 28% and 9% at 10 years, respectively. Annual growth measures were not associated with IA, but being overweight at 2-10 years of life was associated with a twofold increase in the development of type 1 diabetes (HR 2.39; 95% CI 1.46, 3.92; p < 0.001 in time-varying Cox regression), and similarly with joint modelling., Conclusions/interpretation: In children at genetic risk of type 1 diabetes, being overweight at 2-10 years of age is associated with increased risk of progression from multiple IA to type 1 diabetes and with development of type 1 diabetes, but not with development of IA. Future studies should assess the impact of weight management strategies on these outcomes., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00179777.