Validation of the English version of the KINDL generic children's health-related quality of life instrument for an Asian population--results from a pilot test.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the KINDL questionnaire in an Asian population. METHODS: Consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy subjects were recruited to complete the English KINDL questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for patients were age 8-16 years, English-speaking, diagnosed with DM and absence of co-morbid conditions. RESULTS: Thirty children with DM (mean age: 10.7 +/- 1.35 years; 11 M) and 39 healthy subjects (mean age: 10.6 +/- 1.23 years, 17M) completed the child version whereas 31 adolescents with DM (mean age: 14.5 +/- 1.48 years; 15M) and 32 healthy subjects (mean age: 14.3 +/- 0.87 years, 16M) completed the adolescent version. Overall, children with DM reported better HRQoL than healthy children. Although this appeared counter-intuitive, several explanations are possible: (1) the development of resilience to the disease over time, (2) our subjects are well-managed, (3) response shift, (4) the provision of high quality medical care, (5) compared to normal children, diabetic subjects and their family pay greater attention to health issues. The reliability coefficients were (overall, scales): KINDL-Kid DM (0.79, 0.44-0.65), KINDL-Kid Healthy (0.71,0.60-0.80), KINDL-Kiddo DM (0.77, 0.37-0.74) and KINDL-Kiddo Healthy (0.84, 0.21-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: The KINDL questionnaire appeared promising for use in Asian children. However, further validation in a sample more representative of the general population is required.

The Diabcare-Asia 1998 study--outcomes on control and complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to describe the glycaemic and metabolic control and diabetes-related complications in type 1 and type 2 Asian patients. METHODS: Data of diabetes patients from 230 diabetes centres in 12 Asian regions were collected on a retrospective-prospective basis through review of medical records, interview and laboratory assessments. Analysis of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was carried out in central laboratories appointed by Bio-Rad. The data collection case record forms were scanned electronically. RESULTS: 22177 patients with valid data made up the analysis population. Among patents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there was a higher proportion of women than men (53% vs. 47% for type 1 patients and 56% vs. 44% for type 2 diabetes). Hypertension (61%) and overweight (40% with BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 were common in type 2 patients. Dyslipidaemia was also present in at least half of both types of patients. Control of glycaemia (mean HbA,1c and fasting blood glucose [FBG]) was poor in type 1 (9.9 +/- 2.5%; 10.2 +/- 5.2 mmol/l) and type 2 patients (8.5 +/- 2.0%; 8.9 +/- 3.4 mmol/l). Glycaemia in the majority of both types of patients fell short of those stipulated by various guidelines. In type 2 patients, glycaemia deteriorated (HbA1c > 7.5%, FBG > or = 7.0 mmol/l) with duration of diabetes > 7 years. Both types of diabetes appear to share a similar high prevalence of complications of cataract, retinopathy and neuropathy, although the prevalence of cataract (27%) and neuropathy (35%) was higher in type 2 diabetes. Screening for microalbuminuria was not common. CONCLUSIONS: The Inadequate metabolic and hypertension control, especially in type 2 patients, needs to be addressed.