title: Quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Kuwait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in Kuwait using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scale and PedsQL 3.0 Diabetes Module, and to identify the risk factors associated with unsatisfactory QoL and their effects on metabolic control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 436 patients (2-18 years) with T1DM (>6 months) and 389 healthy controls, with the parents of both groups, completed the Arabic Generic Core Scale. Those with T1DM also completed the Arabic Diabetes Module.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total score of the PedsQL Diabetes Module was 70.2 ± 9.8 reported by children and 59.9 ± 11.1 reported by parents (higher scores indicate better QoL). Young age and long duration of diabetes were associated with poor QoL (p < 0.001). Boys had better total scores than girls in most age groups (70.3 ± 9.3 vs. 52.3 ± 7.2, p < 0.001); however, girls did better than boys regarding treatment barriers and adherence (71.3 ± 7.8 vs. 68.1 ± 6.2, p < 0.005). Higher HbA1c values were associated with lower QoL scores (31.1 ± 5.1 at HbA1c of 15% vs. 82.5 ± 6.1 at HbA1c of 6%, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQoL of children and adolescents with T1DM was consistently poorer than controls. Parents consistently reported poorer QoL scores than their children. We recommend that more support should be provided for the care of children with diabetes in Kuwait.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait. majdah.a@hsc.edu.kw
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Abdul-Rasoul
authors: F
authors: F
authors: AlOtaibi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Abdulla
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Rahme
authors: F
authors: F
authors: AlShawaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human