[Factors related to subjective evaluation of quality of life of diabetic patients].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between some clinical and psychosocial factors and the quality of life of a group of diabetic patients.


METHODS
A cross sectional study was done with diabetic patients attending a primary care unit. Quality of life was evaluated with a verbal global scale. The clinical and psychosocial factors studied were: type of diabetes, duration of the disease, type of treatment, associated diseases, complications, metabolic control (glycosylated hemoglobin), treatment compliance, coping styles, negative attitude to disease, social support, and socioeconomical level.


RESULTS
We interviewed 173 patients, most women (739%), most type 2 (95%). We found that being a woman was a factor negatively related to quality of life. Of clinical variables, only duration of disease was slightly correlated with quality of life (-0.14). Psychological and social variables were significantly correlated with quality of life. We performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis and we found that seven psychosocial variables explained 30% of variance of quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that clinical factors did not correlate with quality of life. It is the way the patient lives with diabetes and not the diabetes by itself what affects the quality of life of diabetic patients. Some psychological and social variables were significantly related to quality of life of these patients.
Arcega-Domínguez
Arturo
A
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
Lara-Muñoz
Carmen
C
Ponce-De-León-Rosales
Sergio
S
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life