Youth and Parent Health-Related Quality of Life and Association With Glycemic Outcomes in Preadolescents and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction: We explored differences in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and the youth's glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) of preadolescent and adolescent youths with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by individual (age, sex, race) and family (socioeconomic status) factors, and associations between youths' HRQOL, their parents' HRQOL, and youth's A1c. Method: Correlational secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing a developmental intervention for youths with T1D and their parents from two diabetes clinics. Results: Better adolescent HRQOL was associated with better glycemic control. Better preadolescent HRQOL was associated with better parent HRQOL. Non-White adolescents had worse HRQOL than White adolescents; whereas Non-White preadolescents had worse glycemic control than White preadolescents. Discussion: Addressing HRQOL may promote better glycemic control in adolescents with T1D. For preadolescents with T1D, parent HRQOL support may impact preadolescent HRQOL and improve glycemic control moving into adolescence. Further study is warranted for non-White youths with T1D HRQOL and A1c outcomes.

Automated summary

The study explored differences in HRQOL and A1c in youths with T1D based on individual and family factors, and found associations between adolescent HRQOL and glycemic control, as well as between preadolescent HRQOL and parent HRQOL. Addressing HRQOL in adolescents may lead to better glycemic control, while parental HRQOL support can impact preadolescent HRQOL and glycemic control moving into adolescence. Further research is needed on non-White youths with T1D regarding HRQOL and A1c outcomes.