539-P: Parental Anxiety and Accuracy of Risk Perception upon Receipt of Positive Results of Screening for Presymptomatic Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK)

Screening for islet autoantibodies (IAb) followed by education and monitoring of children at high risk for type 1 diabetes (T1D) substantially reduces incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis. We assess parental anxiety and accuracy of risk perception as part of ASK screening, education and monitoring program. The 10-y risk of clinical diabetes is 70% in children positive for multiple IAb, 50% with single high-affinity, and 2% with single low-affinity (confirmed twice). As of March 2020, ASK had screened for IAb 23,847 general population children and further monitored 280, including 136 with 50-70% high risk and 144 with 2% lower risk; 9% had a first degree relative (FDR) with T1D. At each visit, parental risk perception and anxiety were assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), with a score >40 denoting elevated anxiety. Reported here are results from the 1st visit (N=280) and for those with a 2nd visit (N=119). At the 1st visit, parental anxiety was elevated (mean SAI=46.1) with no difference by child’s risk status, family history, or by which parent responded. SAI was significantly higher in ethnic minorities than in non-Hispanic whites (p