Mid Sweden University

Aims The aim of this studywas toexamine the fearof hypoglycaemiaand its association with demographic anddisease-specificvariables in a large and unselective population of adult patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods Questionnaires were sent by post to all patients with Type 1 diabetes who were identified in the local diabetesregistries of two hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden (n = 1387). Fear of hypoglycaemia was measured using the SwedishHypoglycaemia Fear Survey, theWorry subscale and theAloneness subscale.Demographic variables and disease-specific factorswere collected from patients’ self reports and medical records. Univariate analysis and multiple stepwise linear regressionanalysis were used in the statistical analyses of the data.

Results Seven hundred and sixty-four (55%) patients participated in the study (mean age 43.3 years andmeanHbA1c 7.0%,normal < 5.0%). The Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey - Worry subscale was significantly associated with frequency of severehypoglycaemia, number of symptoms during mild hypoglycaemia, gender, hypoglycaemic symptoms during hyperglycaemiaand hypoglycaemic unawareness. The Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey - Aloneness subscale was significantly associated withfrequency of severe hypoglycaemia, number of symptoms during mild hypoglycaemia, gender, frequency of mildhypoglycaemia, HbA1c, hypoglycaemic unawareness and visits to the emergency room because of severe hypoglycaemia. Fear of hypoglycaemia proved to be more prevalent in females and indicated a different pattern between genders in relation tofactors associated with fear of hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions This study identifies the frequency of severe hypoglycaemia as themost important factor associated with fear ofhypoglycaemia. Moreover, for the first time,we document gender differences in fear of hypoglycaemia, suggesting that femalesare more affected by fear of hypoglycaemia than men.