Health-related quality of life in youth with type 1 diabetes: Associations with multiple comorbidities and mental health conditions

Long-Acting Growth Hormone Therapy in Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Consensus Statement

CONTEXT

Several long-acting growth hormone (LAGH) therapies have recently become available, but guidance on their usage in children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency is limited.

METHODS

International experts in pediatric endocrinology were invited to join a consensus group based on their expertise in treating children with daily GH and LAGH. The group comprised 11 experts from 10 countries across the world. Online group meetings were held in February to March 2024 followed by a 1-day in-person meeting in May 2024 to finalize the consensus recommendations. A targeted literature search approach was used to identify and share evidence ahead of the meetings. Formulations considered were limited to those with international populations in phase III pivotal trials and regulatory approvals in multiple countries.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Topics covered include patient selection and preference, dose adjustment, initiating and switching therapies, administration, adherence and missed doses, practical considerations, and knowledge gaps. LAGH formulations offer a potential advantage over daily GH injections for children with GH deficiency in terms of reduced injection frequency and treatment burden; this may also be associated with improved adherence and treatment outcomes over time. However, data on LAGH in pediatric GH deficiency are mostly limited to clinical trials, and long-term, real-world data are currently lacking.

CONCLUSION

This article provides an international consensus on the use of LAGH therapy in children with GH deficiency to guide practitioners when considering these new treatment options for their patients. Long-term data are needed to fill current data gaps and allow the creation of comprehensive evidence-based recommendations.

Barriers to Type 1 Diabetes Adherence in Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is a particularly crucial period of physical, emotional, and social development and adaptation, rendering these formative years rather challenging for individuals with chronic conditions like type 1 diabetes (T1D). Despite rapid improvement in diabetes therapies, adolescents with T1D are characterized by poorer adherence to treatment regimens compared with other pediatric age groups. Insufficient adherence is strongly related to low diabetes control, increasing morbidity, and risk for premature mortality. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of adolescents' most common barriers to T1D adherence, stressing the need for a deep and comprehensive understanding of these barriers. The complexity of these barriers is underscored by the diverse factors contributing to poor T1D adherence in adolescents. Methods: A narrative review was conducted, surveying four databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science) for full-text articles in the English language published up to June 2024. All studies related to barriers to T1D adherence in adolescents were considered. The literature was selected using selection and exclusion criteria and extracted and organized using Mendeley. Exclusion criteria included studies with insufficient data and non-peer-reviewed articles. This review revealed that adolescents face numerous obstacles to T1D adherence related to psychological factors, flux in family dynamics, perceived social pressures, therapy-related factors, transitioning responsibility, risk-taking behaviors, and pubertal changes. Conclusions: Navigating the adaptations to the different aspects of T1D, from treatment to complications and adolescents' personal growth, effectively requires a thorough understanding of the barriers of a treatment regimen that patients at this critical age face.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Determinants on Health-Related Quality of Life in Emerging Andalusian Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: Having type 1 diabetes during emerging adulthood can impact quality of life due to the challenge of balancing optimal glycemic blood levels with a period of transition and exploration. The purpose of this study was to characterize the quality of life of emerging adults aged 18 to 29 years with type 1 diabetes and to determine the associations between dimensions of Health-Related Quality of Life in type 1 diabetes and sociodemographic and diabetes-related variables. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Andalusia, Spain, from October 2021 to July 2022. A total of 362 emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (67.4% women, mean age 22.8 ± 3.4 years) participated. Data were gathered via sociodemographic information form and the ViDa1 scale. Statistical evaluations, encompassing descriptive analyses, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and logistic regression, were conducted using SPSSv26, adhering to STROBE guidelines. (3) Results: Among the participants, 52.1% have a glycosylated hemoglobin level over 7%. Interference with Life is correlated with sex, age, and age at diagnosis, with age being the only predictor. Self-Care is correlated with and predicted by glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Well-being is correlated with and predicted by sex, Body Mass Index, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Concern about the Condition is correlated with and predicted by sex and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. (4) Conclusions: Despite concerns about their disease, participants generally maintain optimal levels of Health-Related Quality of Life in type 1 diabetes. Predictive factors for Health-Related Quality of Life in type 1 diabetes in this group include sex, age, Body Mass Index, and glycosylated hemoglobin.

Prevalence of Bullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Youth with Chronic Health Conditions in the United States

Background

Bullying perpetration and victimization have gained widespread recognition as major public health issues. However, few studies focused on exploring prevalence rates across impairments or chronic health conditions exist in the literature. The primary purpose of this analysis was to provide current estimates of bullying victimization and perpetration among US youth with 24 chronic health conditions. A secondary purpose was to examine associations between the number of chronic health conditions and bullying victimization and perpetration.

Methods

Data from the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health, nationally representative cross-sectional probability sample of noninstitutionalized youth, were used. This study focused on 29,285 adolescents (aged 12-17 years), including 14,203 with a chronic condition. Pearson's χ2 tests were used to examine proportional equivalence on bullying perpetration and victimization, and logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between the number of chronic conditions and bullying behaviors.

Results

A significantly higher proportion of adolescents with chronic health conditions engaged in bullying perpetration and victimization compared to those without a chronic health condition. Those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and depression were noted as having elevated proportions of bullying victimization, whereas those with behavioral or conduct problems, blood disorders, and depression had higher rates of perpetration.

Conclusions

This analysis helps to identify several groups of adolescents in need of targeted interventions to help reduce bullying rates. Those experiencing more than one chronic health condition were 3.56 and 2.97 times as likely to engage in bullying victimization and perpetration, respectively, compared to those with no condition.

Health-related quality of life among adolescents with type 1 diabetes since the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on everyday life and in general, reduced the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents. In this study, we assess the HRQoL of adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Germany since the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by using self-report and parent-proxy reports, to identify risk factors, to compare to peers and to examine the agreement of HRQoL between parents and their children.

METHODS

A total of 445 adolescents (12-18 years) and 413 parents participated in an anonymous cross-sectional survey conducted at three German diabetes centres from January 2021 to June 2022. Inclusion criteria were diabetes duration ≥1 year and German-speaking. Teen HRQoL was assessed by using self-report and parent-proxy report versions of the KIDSCREEN-10 index.

RESULTS

The majority of adolescents reported average (75.5%) HRQoL. Approximately 11.3% of teens reported high and 13.2% low HRQoL. Teen's female gender, older age, higher diabetes burden and parental depression symptoms contributed to lower self-reported HRQoL among teens. For parent-proxy reports, increasing diabetes burdens, parental depression symptoms, non-migrant status, high education and ketoacidosis contributed to lower scores on teen HRQoL. The mean scores of the KIDSCREEN-10 index for adolescents did not differ from the German norm. In comparison to healthy peers during the first wave of the pandemic, adolescents in the current study reported higher HRQoL. The overall teen-parent agreement was fair although parents reported significantly lower teen HRQoL than adolescents did.

CONCLUSIONS

HRQoL of most adolescents with T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic was average with parents reporting significantly lower scores. Self-reported and parent-proxy-reported HRQoL and the level of agreement due to different perspectives can provide important information for clinical care and intervention planning.

Proxy-report in individuals with intellectual disability: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Views can be collected from individuals (self-report) or others on their behalf (proxy-report).

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to review the literature on methods and statistical approaches used to evaluate observer versus self-report responses from individuals with intellectual disability or Down syndrome.

METHODS

A series of key questions related to statistical approaches and data collection methods were formulated a priori to inform the search strategy and review process. These addressed the topics of self-report in individuals with intellectual disability, including Down syndrome. Using the National Library of Medicine database, PubMed, detailed literature searches were performed. The quality of available evidence was then evaluated, the existing literature was summarised, and knowledge gaps and research needs were identified.

RESULTS

Fifty relevant original articles were identified which addressed at least one key question. Study details, including: research design, internal validity, external validity, and relevant results are presented. Review of studies of individuals with intellectual disability which used a variety of statistical approaches showed mixed agreement between self-report and proxy-report.

CONCLUSION

Few studies identified to-date have used self-report from individuals with Down syndrome, but lessons from the existing intellectual disability literature can guide researchers to incorporate self-report from individuals with Down syndrome in the future.

Psychosocial aspects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in children with type 1 diabetes in Egypt; a limited resources country perspective

BACKGROUND

Novel innovations continue to emerge in type-1 diabetes (T1D) management aiming to improve glycemic control. Assessing the psychosocial outcomes of different treatment modalities is specifically crucial among children with T1D and differs from one population to another.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and confidence in diabetes self-management (CIDS) among children with T1D on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) versus multiple daily injections (MDI) and to correlate them with the efficacy of glycemic control, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents(MINI-KID) depression module and socioeconomic-standard scale.

METHODS

This real life study (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04756011) included 60 children with T1D (30 on CSII and 30 on MDI), aged 6-18 years. Disease duration, insulin therapy, average self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and HbA1C were assessed. CIDS, socioeconomic-standard, MINI-KID depression and HRQoL scales were applied.

RESULTS

Children with T1D on CSII have significantly higher HRQoL and CIDS than those on MDI (P < 0.001). A significant negative correlation is found between HRQoL and insulin daily dose(P = 0.022), HbA1C(P < 0.001), average SMBG(P < 0.001) and MINI-KID depression scale(P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation is found between HRQoL and CIDS(P < 0.001) and health care, home sanitation, family possessions and occupation socioeconomic scores(P = 0.033, P = 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that HRQoL is most associated with MINI-KID depression scale (P = 0.004) and annual total cost(P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Children with T1D on CSII have significantly better HRQoL, CIDS and HbA1C with less depression than those on MDI.

Comorbidities in Recent-Onset Adult Type 1 Diabetes: A Comparison of German Cohorts

AIMS

Restrictive exclusion criteria from different study populations may limit the generalizability of the observations. By comparing two differently designed German cohorts, we assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes-related complications in recent-onset adult type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

This study evaluated 1511 persons with type 1 diabetes of the prospective diabetes follow-up registry (DPV) and 268 volunteers of the prospective observational German Diabetes Study (GDS) with a known diabetes duration <1 year. Participants had similar age (36 years), sex distribution (41% female) and BMI (26 kg/m²) in both cohorts.

RESULTS

The average HbA1c was 6.4 ± 0.8% in the GDS and 7.0 ± 1.1% in the DPV. Prevalence of hypertension (24%) was similar, while more DPV participants had dyslipidemia and lipid-lowering medication than GDS participants (77% vs. 41% and 7% vs. 2%, respectively; p<0.05). Prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy was higher in DPV compared to GDS participants (10% vs. 3% and 18% vs. 7%, respectively; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy are the most frequent complications in type 1 diabetes, affecting up to every 10th patient within the first year after diagnosis, underlining the need for more stringent risk factor management already at the time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.