Diabetes-specific variables associated with quality of life changes in young diabetic people: the type 1 diabetes Registry of Turin (Italy)

Abstract

Background and aims: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) affects young people during the most active years of their life. Our aim was to assess quality of life (QoL) and associated variables in a large cohort of adults with childhood-onset and adult-onset T1DM.

Methods: A cohort of adult patients (18 years and older) from the T1DM Registry of Turin, Italy, was recruited. Clinical characteristics and Diabetes QoL (DQOL) questionnaire were assessed by standardized procedures.

Results: 310 adults completed the questionnaire. Age and diabetes duration at assessment (mean ± SD) were 32.8 ± 7.3 years and 17.3 ± 6.3 years, respectively. DQOL and its subscores were in the lower quartiles of their distributions, indicating a good level of QoL. However, scores were significantly higher in females than in males, particularly for the subscale of diabetes-related worries. In multivariate analysis, lower QoL was independently associated with female sex (β = 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11, p = 0.003), higher age at onset (β = 1.03, 1.00-1.05, p = 0.009), lower schooling (β = 1.05, 1.00-1.09, p = 0.02), higher fasting plasma glucose (β = 1.03, 1.01-1.05, p = 0.008), daily SMBG >4 (β = 1.06, 1.01-1.10, p = 0.01), severe hypoglycemia over the last year (β = 1.06, 1.01-1.11, p = 0.02), lower numbers of diabetologic visits (β = 1.07, 1.01-1.13, p = 0.02) and hypertension (β = 1.06, 1.02-1.10, p = 0.005). Autonomic neuropathy was associated with diabetes impact. Female sex (β = 4.36, 2.43-7.83) and daily SMBG >4 (β = 3.77, 1.72-8.30) were independently associated with worst level and CSII with better level (β = 0.22, 0.07-0.68) of diabetes-related worries.

Conclusions: The impact of T1DM on QoL may depend on demographic, metabolic control-related variables, presence of complications and insulin delivery modality.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Quality of life; Registry; Type 1 diabetes.