[Satisfaction and quality of life evaluation in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus treated using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion compared with multiple daily injections].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction (SF) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) compared with multiple daily insulin injections (MDI).

METHOD: A descriptive study was conducted to assess the QOL and SF of 68 patients on CSII or MDI treatment (1:2). The instruments used were, the Spanish version of the Diabetes Quality of Life (EsDQOL) specific for diabetes related QOL, SF-36 for general QOL, and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) for SF evaluation.

RESULTS: The EsDQOL scores for patients on CSII therapy were similar to those treated with MDI (87.20±21.11 vs 86.83±20.7, P=.86), with lower scores in the SF-36 questionnaire (66.91±15.76 vs 75.90±14.56, P=.03) except in Health Transition section, where patients treated with CSII showed higher scores (68.75±19.66 vs 57.93±17.18, p=.02). The values obtained in the DTSQ questionnaire were higher in CSII patients compared with the MDI group in last weeks (31.50±4.66 vs 27.83±6.06, p=.01) and last three months periods (13.2±6.73 vs 8.77±7.40, p=.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T1DM on CSII therapy showed a poorer global QOL, although they felt more satisfied with their treatment than those treated with MDI. No differences in diabetes related QOL were detected between groups.