Evaluation of Pulmonary Functions in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Pulmonology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic pediatric disease associated with long-term complications.
• Pulmonary complications in children with T1DM are increasingly recognized but require further investigation.
• Understanding the impact of glycemic control on lung function is crucial for comprehensive T1DM management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pulmonary function using spirometry in children diagnosed with T1DM.
• To assess the relationship between glycemic control and spirometric parameters in pediatric T1DM patients.
• To identify the prevalence and patterns of pulmonary dysfunction in children with T1DM.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 96 children with T1DM and 102 healthy controls.
• Spirometry was performed to measure forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (MMFR).
• Patients were stratified based on glycemic control (fair vs. poor) for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Children with T1DM exhibited significantly reduced spirometry parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, MMFR) compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001).
• Poor glycemic control was associated with a significant decrease in FEV1 and FVC compared to fair glycemic control (p=0.001).
• Restrictive lung pattern was the predominant pulmonary dysfunction, worsening with inadequate glycemic control.

Conclusions:

• Children with T1DM experience significant pulmonary function impairment.
• Poor glycemic control is linked to more severe lung dysfunction in pediatric T1DM.
• Regular lung function assessments and optimized glycemic control are recommended for managing T1DM in children.