Multidimensional study on quality of life in children with type 1 diabetes

E. Ausili, F. Tabacco, B. Focarelli, L. Padua*#, F. Crea, P. Caliandro*#, C. Pazzaglia*#, G. Marietti, C. Rendeli

Pediatric Department, Catholic University, Rome (Italy) *Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome (Italy) #Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Rome (Italy)

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• Pediatrics

AIM: To study the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and metabolic assessment in 33 children affected with type 1 diabetes (18 males, 15 females; mean age 10.3 years).

METHODS AND RESULTS: We used the Child Health Questionnaire – Parental Form 50 items (CHQ-PF50), measurements of metabolic control and we related them to patient management and family status. Quality of life (QoL) in diabetic children was worse than in the healthy sample. Interestingly, mean and last glycosylated hemoglobin (mean HbA1c r: –.4410 p < .01 and last HbA1c r: –.4012 p < .01), age of patients (r: –.4428; p < .009) and number of glycaemia controls (r: –.37, p < .03) were the most important parameters related to HRQoL parameters.

CONCLUSIONS: This multidimensional study stressed that HRQoL is influenced by the metabolic assessment. Moreover, the report examined the parental perception of QoL in children with chronic diseases. Higher number of glycaemia controls/day, better metabolic control, lower age of children and earlier onset of diabetes produced better physical and psychological aspects of QoL. In comparison with adolescent patients, in children with diabetes, factors as number of insulin injections and daily snacks, and the level of education of the mother were not so important to influence QoL. Unexpectedly, in this sample, life habits, family features, and anthropometric parameters did not correlate with specific domains of QoL.

Corresponding Author: Claudia Rendeli, MD; e-mail: c.rendeli@libero.it

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