Quality of life in children with diabetes at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Introduction: Health related quality of life of an individual includes domains related to physical,
mental, social and emotional functioning with regard to their health status. Diabetes mellitus is
the commonest paediatric endocrinology disease and children with diabetes face challenges of
adjusting their lifestyle and adherence to the treatment plan which might affect their quality of
life.
Objective: Assess Quality of Life in children with diabetes compared to their non diabetic peers.
Methodology: This was a comparative cross sectional study that included 156 children aged 2 –
18 years (78 diabetic children at Kenyatta National Hospital endocrinology clinic and 78 controls
matched for sex age and residence). Questionnaires (PedsQL version 4.0 for both the groups and
PedsQL diabetes module version 3.0 for diabetics) were administered for the diabetic group and
telephone interviews were conducted for the control group.Parent proxy reports were also
obtained in all the groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0
Results: Mean age was 11.7± 4.3 for children with diabetes and 11.7± 4.2 for controls. Mean
duration of diabetes was 35.02 ± 32 months. Diabetic patients were found to have a lower quality
of life than their non diabetic peers (p < 0.05). Older age, male gender, self administration of
insulin and adherence to insulin therapy were associated with better HRQOL in children with
diabetes. Older age was also associated with better diabetic related QOL. Age at diagnosis,
duration of treatment and compliance to follow up, glycemic control level of education of parent,
residence, family setting and did not affect quality of life.
Conclusion: Children with diabetes have a lower quality of life compared to their non diabetic
peers.
Recommendation: Children with diabetes should be followed up keenly to achieve better
quality of life.
Publisher
University of Nairobi