Evaluation of the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in two health institutions, Bogotá, D. C., Colombia.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the pediatric and juvenile population that affects the quality of life of patients.

Objective

To evaluate the quality of life of a pediatric population under 18 years of age diagnosed with type 1 diabetes from two pediatric institutions in the city of Bogotá. Material and methods: We collected of sociodemographic data and clinical variables and application of the PedsQL 4.0™ questionnaire, and the diabetes module 3.2 version validated in Spanish. The sociodemographic data, the clinical variables and the PedsQL™ were processed in the statistical software Stata 17™.

Results

In the global score of the PedsQL™ 3.2, diabetes version, men presented better quality of life compared to women. The correlation between the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values and the PedsQL scale in the global score was evaluated. Patients with HbA1c values below 9% presented a better health-related quality of life, while in the group with HbA1c greater than 9% a perception of low quality of life was observed (p=0.025). Regarding the type of therapy and the relationship with the domains of the PedsQL 3.2, diabetes version, patients who used insulin pumps had better scores in the domains barriers, adherence, concern, communication and in the global score compared to patients who used multiple daily injections of insulin as treatment (p=0.0363).

Conclusions

In our patients, a better metabolic control (measured by the HbA1c value) and the use of an insulin pump contribute to a better perception of quality of life.