Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus: SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between demographic and diabetes management variables and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of youths with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Selected populations in Ohio, Washington, South Carolina, Colorado, Hawaii, and California; health service beneficiaries in 3 American Indian populations; and participants in the Pima Indian Study in Arizona.


METHODS
Two thousand four hundred forty-five participants aged 8 to 22 years in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.


METHODS
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores.


RESULTS
Among youths with type 2 DM, HRQOL was lower compared with those with type 1. Among those with type 1 DM, worse HRQOL was associated with a primary insurance source of Medicaid or another government-funded insurance, use of insulin injections vs an insulin pump, a hemoglobin A(1c) value of at least 9%, and more comorbidities and diabetes complications. There was a significant age x sex interaction, such that, in older groups, HRQOL was lower for girls but higher for boys. For youths with type 2 DM, injecting insulin at least 3 times a day compared with using an oral or no diabetes medication was associated with better HRQOL, and having 2 or more emergency department visits in the past 6 months was associated with worse HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Youths with types 1 and 2 DM reported HRQOL differences by type of treatment and complications. The significant age x sex interaction suggests that interventions to improve HRQOL should consider gender differences in diabetes adjustment and management in different age groups.
Naughton
Michelle J
MJ
Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 W First St, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, USA. naughton@wfubmc.edu
Ruggiero
Andrea M
AM
Lawrence
Jean M
JM
Imperatore
Giuseppina
G
Klingensmith
Georgeanna J
GJ
Waitzfelder
Beth
B
McKeown
Robert E
RE
Standiford
Debra A
DA
Liese
Angela D
AD
Loots
Beth
B
D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D007328:Insulin