Abstract

This study aimed to assess parents’ perceptions of the quality of life (QoL) of their children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during Ramadan fasting (RF). In this crosssectional study, an Arabic-translated version of the standard diabetes-specific QoL questionnaire (PedsQL™ version 3.0) was used to compare perceptions of QoL during Ramadan month (Rm) versus non-Rm (NRm) of parents of children/adolescents with T1D from two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh. We used regression analysis to compare proxies (parents’ reports) of their perceptions on their children/adolescents’ QoL during Rm compared to NRm. A sample of 61 proxies (parents’) of two age groups T1D offspring: 8–12 years (41%) and 13–18 years (59%) who reported their perceptions of their children/ adolescents QoL during Rm were matched by children/adolescents’ age and gender of 61 proxies in NRm. QoL scores of all domains were significantly lower in Rm compared to NRm; p < 0.0001, however, worries domain showed no statistical differences p = 0.052 in a regression analysis. The total aggregate median (IQR) in Rm was 850 (612–1,062) compared to 1,750 (1,475–2,062) in NRm, p < 0.001. The highest differences in NRm and Rm median scores were observed in communications (OR = 3.64; 95% CI 2.7– 5.57) and treatment adherence (OR = 3.09; 95% CI 2.48–3.84) domains especially in the age of 13–18 years. Parents of adolescent boys, who are usually risk-takers and more exposed to outdoor activities, perceived lower QoL for them. Parents of adolescents with T1D perceived a lower QoL for their children during RF, especially in the treatment adherence and communication domains.

Key words: Adolescents; Children; Non-Ramadan; Quality of life; Ramadan fasting; Type 1 Diabetes.