Relationship between participant-reported outcomes, residual beta cell function and metabolic parameters in youth with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes

Abstract Aims/hypothesis Clinical trials of interventions to preserve beta cell function in new-onset type 1 diabetes frequently employ participant-reported outcome measures (PROMs). However, the expected changes in PROMs scores immediately following diagnosis and their association with residual beta cell function, metabolic markers and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are unclear. Methods Repeated PROMs including Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory diabetes module (PedsQL) and hypoglycaemia fear survey (HFS) were recorded from participants aged 10–18 years with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and their parents in two clinical trials: CLOuD ( N =97, hybrid closed loop [HCL] vs multiple daily injections [MDI]) and USTEKID ( N =72, ustekinumab immunotherapy vs placebo). Scores were compared with serial mixed meal-stimulated C-peptide levels (AUC C-peptide), HbA 1c and CGM data. Results PedsQL and HFS scores for children/adolescents and their parents showed wide variation between individuals but did not change substantially within individuals over the first 48 months from diagnosis. Baseline scores were highly predictive of scores at 12–48 months ( p <0.001). PedsQL scores were higher (better) in those reported by children/adolescents than by their parents ( p <0.01). In contrast, HFS scores were higher in parents than children ( p <0.001), indicating more fear. Strong correlations were observed between child and parent scores ( p <0.001). No significant improvement in these scores was detected following intervention (ustekinumab or HCL). Meta-analysis revealed modest but statistically significant associations between HbA 1c and PedsQL (β (std) =−0.11; 95% CI −0.20, −0.03) and HFS (β (std) =0.11; 95% CI 0.00, 0.21), and between CGM time in range and PedsQL (β (std) =0.14; 95% CI 0.03, 0.26) but not HFS (β (std) =−0.05; 95% CI −0.16, 0.06). Beta cell function (AUC C-peptide) was strongly associated with HbA 1c (β (std) =−0.29; 95% CI −0.39, −0.20) and CGM time in range (β (std) =0.41; 95% CI 0.30, 0.52). Higher beta cell function showed a trend towards better PedsQL (β (std) =0.11; 95% CI −0.03, 0.25) and lower HFS (β (std) =−0.05; 95% CI −0.17, 0.07) but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions/interpretation PedsQL and HFS scores changed little during the first 48 months after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. These scores showed modest but statistically significant associations with measures of glucose management (HbA 1c and CGM time in range), whereas the relationships with residual beta cell function (C-peptide) were weaker and did not reach significance. The modest size of these effects suggests current PROMs capture only limited aspects of the clinical benefit associated with beta cell preservation. Future research should incorporate psychometric instruments that are specifically adapted for young people using modern diabetes technologies and undergoing disease-modifying therapy, to ensure outcomes are meaningfully represented in early-stage type 1 diabetes trials.