[Impact of gastrointestinal symptoms on health related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].
BACKGROUND
A recent study has shown that health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is affected by the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms (GI). It is unknown if this is reproducible among Latin patients with DM.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of GI symptoms on HRQOL of Latin patients with type 2 DM.


METHODS
Between March and June 2001, consecutive patients with type 2 DM from a referral center were studied, excluding those with a history of DM related chronic complications or using insulin. A Bowel Symptom Questionnaire identified 47 patients with GI symptoms (A) and they were compared with 46 consecutive patients without GI symptoms (B). All patients answered the HRQOL questionnaire, SF-36 Spanish-Mexico. Results of the SF-36 were expressed in means +/- SD and analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
The frequency of GI symptoms in A were: 41.6% gastroesophageal reflux, 14.6% dyspepsia, 21.3% IBS, 20.8% fecal incontinence and 2.2% combinations. Compared to A, B showed lower scores in all the SF-36 scales (Physical function: p = 0.001, role limitations-physical: p = 0.003, bodily pain: p = 0.001, general health: p = 0.016, energy/fatigue: p = 0.003, social functioning: p = 0.013, emotional well-being: p = 0.004) except in role limitations-emotional. Also A had lower scores in the physical component summary (p = 0.001) but no difference in the mental component.


CONCLUSIONS
In Latin patients with type 2 DM the presence of GI symptoms has a negative impact mainly on the physical components of HRQOL, compared to those without GI symptoms.
Zetina-López
Alfonso
A
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, DF.
Custodio-Vázquez
Alejandra
A
Hinojosa
Carlos
C
Juárez-Paiz
Luis
L
Schmulson
Max
M
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life