06/01/2026
Ottawa, Ontario — Tuesday January 6, 2026
The transition from pediatric to adult care is a critical step for teens with (cSLE), and many lose their connection to a care specialist during this time. CHEO RI investigator Tala El Tal was part of a study with colleagues at SickKids and Mount Sinai Hospital that tested a new dyad transition model designed to keep care on track during this transition period.
“Too many teens get lost in the handoff to adult care. When pediatric and adult teams collaborate for a few years before and during transition, young people stay connected to their care providers.” said Dr. El Tal. “We saw that in our study with childhood-onset lupus, and we believe the same approach can help other chronic diseases too.”
In the transition model, teens saw both pediatric and adult care specialists over a four-year period – including joint appointments, detailed transition letters, and education for self-management and life skills. Of the 234 teens and families followed by the study, 98% attended their first adult visit within a year of transition, 97.5% returned for follow-up, and 94% stayed in care long-term – far higher success rates than standard transition plans, where only about half of young people with cSLE remain in care long-term.
This structured, collaborative transition model offers a replicable framework to help prepare youth with cSLE and other chronic conditions for adult care and prevent gaps in treatment, helping them maintain access to care during the challenging transition period and into adulthood.