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. 2022 Nov 3:2022:8401328.
doi: 10.1155/2022/8401328. eCollection 2022.

Relation of Health-Related Quality of Life with Glycemic Control and Use of Diabetes Technology in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Results from a National Population Based Study

Heiko Bratke  1   2   3   4 , Eva Biringer  4 , Hanna D Margeirsdottir  3   5 , Pål R Njølstad  2   6 , Torild Skrivarhaug  3   5   7   8
Affiliations

Relation of Health-Related Quality of Life with Glycemic Control and Use of Diabetes Technology in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Results from a National Population Based Study

Heiko Bratke et al. J Diabetes Res. .

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim was to analyse the association between diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and HbA1c in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The secondary aims were to evaluate the associations between diabetes-specific HRQOL and age, sex, diabetes duration, and the use of diabetes technology in diabetes treatment. Research Design and Methods. Children with type 1 diabetes (10-17 years, N = 1,019) and parents (children <10 years, N = 371; 10-17 years, N = 1,070) completed the DISABKIDS diabetes-specific questionnaire (DDM-10) as part of the 2017 data collection for the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry. The DDM-10 consists of two subscales-'impact' and 'treatment'-with six and four items, respectively. In the linear regression models, the items and subscales were outcome variables, while HbA1c, age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin pump use, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system use were predictor variables.

Results: Lower HbA1c measurements and male sex were associated with higher HRQOL scores on both DDM-10 scales in the age group 10-17 years, but not in children under 10 years. Parents gave lower HRQOL scores than children in the 10-17 age group. Insulin pump and CGM use were not significantly associated with HRQOL on the impact and treatment scale.

Conclusions: Low HbA1c and male sex are significantly associated with high HRQOL in children aged 10-17 with type 1 diabetes, but the use of diabetes technology is not positively associated with HRQOL. Differences in child- and parent-reported scores imply that parents might both over- and underestimate their child's HRQOL.

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Conflict of interest statement

Heiko Bratke, Hanna D Margeirsdottir, Pål R Njølstad, and Torild Skrivarhaug have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the sampling process. For statistics on item level, surveys from all participants were used (N = 1,019 + N = 1,070 + N = 371). For scales based on sum scores, we used only completed surveys (valid surveys, N = 903 + N = 998 + N = 342). When comparing children's and parents' responses, we only used responses from the same age group (marked in blue, 10-17 years).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Stacked box plot with responses to items 1–10 for (a) children aged 10–17 years (N = 1,019), (b) parents of children aged 10–17 years (N = 1,070), (c) parents of children under 10 years (N = 371), and (d) all parents (N = 1,441). Valid N is marked in the bars. Blue reflects a higher quality of life.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Stacked box plot with responses to items 1–10 for children aged 10–12, 13-15, and 16-18 years. Valid N is marked in the bars. Blue reflects a higher quality of life.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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