The effects of Covid-19 lockdown on health, lifestyle, and wellbeing of children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents in Kuwait

This is a full data set to accompany our study, presently in submission. Abstract <strong><em>Objective.</em></strong> The restrictions brought about by Covid-19 pandemic have substantially affected people’s health and rapidly changed their daily routines. This is a prospective study that investigated the impact of the pandemic on primary school children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents during the first lockdown in Kuwait. <strong><em>Methods.</em></strong> A questionnaire battery related to mental health, well-being, and lifestyle was administered at baseline in Summer 2019 (face-to-face, at a diabetes outpatient clinic) and at follow-up during lockdown in Summer 2020 (via telephone, in adherence with Covid-19 restrictions). Data were collected for 70 dyads with children aged 9-12 years. <strong><em>Results.</em></strong> Significant differences were found in most scores for both children and parents. Their mental health worsened to a higher level of depression, anxiety, stress, and a poor level of wellbeing. The average scores on the follow-up tests fell within a clinical range on these measures. Significant differences in their lifestyle, compared to before the lockdown, included decreased levels of physical activity and lower healthy core nutritional intake. <strong><em>Conclusions.</em></strong> Our findings indicate that the Covid-19 lockdown has had a significant psychological and possibly physiological impact on children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents. We conclude that there is a need for mental health support services focusing on these groups. Although full lockdown restrictions will have stopped in the past year, post-pandemic stressors may be expected to continue to adversely affect this cohort.