Diabetes: annual urinary albumin (children T1DM)

Indicator type

Network / system level indicator. The indicator would be appropriate to understand and report on the performance of networks or systems of providers.

Rationale

This indicator aims to reduce the risk of developing nephropathy in young people aged 12 to 18 years with type 1 diabetes. Measurements of urinary albumin loss are the best screening tests for diabetic nephropathy. The presence of urinary microalbuminuria is a pointer to the need for more rigorous management of cardiovascular risk factors.

Source guidance

Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG18 (2015, updated 2023), recommendation 1.2.119

Specification

Numerator: The number of people in the denominator who had their urinary albumin recorded in the previous 12 months.

Denominator: The number of children and young people aged 12 to 18 years with type 1 diabetes.

Calculation: Numerator divided by the denominator, multiplied by 100.

Exclusions: None.

Personalised care adjustments or exception reporting should be considered to account for situations where the patient declines, does not attend or if measuring urinary albumin is not appropriate.

Data source: National Paediatrics Diabetes Audit.

Expected population size: The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit for 2023 to 2024 shows that 0.03% of people in England are children and young people aged 12 plus years with type 1 diabetes: 3 per 10,000 patients served by a network. There is no minimum number of patients required for network level indicators. However, consideration should be given to whether the majority of results would require suppression because of small numbers.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-6955-5