ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Hypoglycemia is the most common acute complication in T1D. It has ominous symptoms and it is potentially fatal. Parents of infants with T1D are instructed in how to avoid, detect and manage these episodes. However, it is well known that many parents develop fear of hypoglycemia (FoH) which may lead to phobic avoidance behaviors such as permanent hyperglycemia and anxiety, losing optimal metabolic control. We aimed to explore how parenting stress and FoH impacts their children's glucose performance towards the goals.

Methods: To asses both dimension we used two questoinaires: the spanish verison of Parent’s fear of hypoglycaemia scale (HFS-P) whit Behviors (B) and worries (W) caractherist and the spanish version Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) whit both validated in spanish population. STAI-total score >45 has been classified as important clinical anxiety. Main caregivers were recruited from three pediatrics T1DM units (Jerez, Puerto Real and Puerta del Mar Universitary Hospital) who accepted, signed informed consent and completed both questionaires during their routine physician’s appointment. Clinical, antropometric and metabolic data were colected from clinical history and analyzed. Descriptive and correlation study was performed using P-value<0.05 to determine stadistical significance

Results: 77 main caregivers were recruited, mostly mothers (mean age 44.9 +/- 6.8 years). Their children had a mean age 11.67 (3.7), mean diabetes duration 5.5 (3.4) years, 46 (59.7%) females, 51 (68%) patients had closed-loop insulin pumps. HbA1c mean levels of 7.2 (0.77) and mean time in range of 66.3 (15.4). 18 (23.3%) had STAI total>45 and HFS-P mean was 66.7 (15.5). Correlation study (table 1), showed a positive correlation between both scores, but none between any of the scores items and Hb1Ac or any other glucose control parameter.

Conclusions: Our study observe a high prevalence of important clinical anxiety in main caregivers. Correlation study shown higher FoH is asociated to elevated Ansiety. No association on metabolic control with anxiety or FoH were observed.