Aim

To assess participation with a structured transition programme for adolescents with diabetes.

Methods

Data from a regional cohort aged less than 16 years of age with type 1 (T1) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Auckland, New Zealand (2006–2016). Participation was defined as opting into a structured transition programme.

Results

Five hundrend and twelve adolescents who were to be transferred to adult care (476 type 1 (T1D) and 36 type 2 (T2D)), overall participation rate of 83%, 86% (408/476) with T1D compared to 47% (17/36) with T2D. Within the cohort of T1D, participation rates for Māori and Pacific were lower (74% and 77%, respectively) than New Zealand Europeans (88%, p = 0.020 and p = 0.039, respectively). Lower socio-economic status was associated with reduced participation (77%) compared to higher socio-economic status (90%, p = 0.002).

Of the 476 T1D who participated, 408 (96%) subsequently attended at least one adult service clinic (“capture”). 42% attended an adult clinic within the planned 3 months, 87% at 6 months and retention in adult clinics over 5 years of follow-up was 78%. By contrast, the 68 young people with T1D who did not participate in the structured transition had a capture rate of 78% (p < 0.001) and retention of 63% (p = 0.036).

Conclusions

In adolescents with diabetes, a formal transition from a paediatric service was associated with high rates of adult capture and subsequent retention in adult care over a 5-year follow-up period. Low socio-economic status, Māori or Pacific ethnicity and T2D were associated with reduced participation in the structured transition programme.