Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its effect on quality of life in adolescents: A retrospective cohort study in Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Quality of life (QoL) in adolescent patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been thoroughly explored in Saudi Arabia. Herein, we aimed to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescent patients suffering from T2DM and explore the correlation between adolescents' self- and parent-reporting of QoL scores, and glycaemic control (HbA1c).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective multi-centre cohort study was conducted at 4 hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQLTM) Diabetes Module 3.0 was completed by children and their parents in a confidential and anonyms manner through a phone interview.

RESULTS

We recruited 49 paediatric patients for this study (mean age: 18.45 years; male: 55%). Both children and parents reported low cumulative mean scores for PedsQL™ (58.65 and 57.38, respectively) as compared to previous international studies. The lowest obtained score was noted for the diabetes symptoms domain (53.4). Comparing the magnitude of discrepancy between the adolescents' and parents' subscale scores revealed a non-significant difference, except for the 'worry' subscale, in which parents reported significantly higher mean scores (76.73 vs. 60.54, p = 0.02). Comparison of mean scores reported by adolescents who met the target HbA1c goal (<7%) and their counterparts revealed a non-significant difference, suggesting an irrelevant impact of this parameter on their perspectives or experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings emphasized the need to initiate further intensive awareness programs concerning this disease and its clinical implications in T2DM children to improve treatment adherence and symptoms, and consequently improve the perception of the patient and the family for HRQoL.

An Analysis of Patient-reported Outcomes in IXORA-S: Comparing Ixekizumab and Ustekinumab over 52 Weeks in Moderate-to-severe Psoriasis

Patient-reported outcomes are valuable for assessing new psoriasis therapies. This study investigated patient-reported outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab or ustekinumab, dosed according to their respective labels, for 52 weeks (IXORA-S-NCT02561806). Patient-reported outcomes investigated included patient global assessment, pruritus, skin pain, health-related quality of life, and work productivity. Ixekizumab-treated patients reported greater improvements in patient-reported outcomes sooner after treatment compared with ustekinumab-treated patients, and maintained greater improvements in patient global assessment scores (ixekizumab 0.72, ustekinumab 1.19; p < 0.001), rates of Dermatology Life Quality Index (0, 1) (ixekizumab 71.3%, ustekinumab 56.6%, p < 0.01), and 36-item Short-form Health survey physical component summary score change from baseline (ixekizumab 5.53, ustekinumab 3.28; p < 0.05) at week 52. While clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes resulted with either treatment, ixekizumab provided more rapid improvements in patient-reported outcomes and superior outcomes for some assessments through one year of treatment, while maintaining statistically superior improvements in skin severity, as assessed by either physicians or patients.

Pain in Atopic Dermatitis: An Online Population-based Survey

Pruritus in atopic dermatitis has been studied extensively; however, evaluation of skin pain has been very limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence, frequency and characteristics of skin pain in patients with atopic dermatitis. A survey was conducted of a representative sample of 5,000 18–80-year-old individuals selected from the French population according to sex, age, geographical area and socioprofessional status. Data on socio-demographic status and the presence of any skin disease were collected. Pain in the past month and health-related quality of life were evaluated. Mean intensity of skin pain during the previous month was assessed with a horizontal visual analogue scale (0–10). Skin pain was reported by more than half of the patients with atopic dermatitis, at a pain intensity of almost 6/10. A neuropathic component was suggested by the Douleur Neuropathique – 4 questions (DN4) questionnaire (a tool for detection of neuropathic pain), as well as the presence of pain inside and outside of skin lesions. Severe alterations to health-related quality of life were assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12). Pain is reported frequently by patients with atopic dermatitis. Healthcare professionals should question patients about pain and provide effective treatments. Future clinical trials must take skin pain into account.