Factors related to quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (DM1) is a disease with no cure that requires intensive and permanent treatment throughout life making quality of life (QoL) an important outcome to be considered. Knowing the factors related to QoL in adolescents with DM1 can provide elements to improve diabetes care during adolescence in terms of promoting QoL in the present and future. Objectives: To identify and describe factors related to QoL in adolescents with DM1. Method: This is a systematic review (SR) carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Thirty-one studies were reviewed, 12 observational and 19 intervention studies. The observational studies covered 3,978 adolescents with DM1 and 354 controls, and the intervention studies covered 2,612. Observational studies showed an association between QoL and demographic, socioeconomic, psychological, behavioral, clinical and healthcare factors. Interventions in face-to-face and online formats relating to psychological, diabetes education and self-care support approaches showed positive impacts on various domains of QoL. Conclusions: This SR identified factors associated with QoL in adolescents with DM1, as well as interventions with a positive impact on QoL, providing elements to improve diabetes care during adolescence. Psychological, diabetes education and self-care support interventions based on soft technology showed benefits on QoL domains and can be easily incorporated by health services.