Association between impaired glucose metabolism and quality of life: results from the Australian diabetes obesity and lifestyle study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association of quality of life with glucose tolerance status in an Australian population to determine the stage in the development of diabetes that quality of life is impaired.


METHODS
The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study (AusDiab) was a population-based study of 11,247 people from randomly selected areas of Australia. As part of the study, participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and completed the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire.


RESULTS
Previously diagnosed diabetes was associated with a significantly greater risk of being in the lowest quartile of each dimension of the SF-36 scale (except for mental health) and this association was only partially attenuated by adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), physical activity and treatment for hypertension and lipid abnormalities (adjusted odds ratios [95% CI]: bodily pain, 1.51 [1.18-1.94]; general health, 2.20 [1.64-2.95]; physical functioning, 1.50 [1.10-2.05]; role limitation (emotional), 1.43 [1.07-1.91]; role limitation (physical), 1.57 [1.13-2.18]; social functioning, 1.93 [1.46-2.54] and vitality, 2.24 [1.56-3.22]. Among those with newly diagnosed diabetes (NDM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), there was also evidence of reduced quality of life on some dimensions of the SF-36 scale (NDM, general health, physical functioning and role limitation (physical); IGT, physical functioning and social functioning) after adjustment for confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that diabetes is associated with a reduced quality of life and that this is evident in the early stage of the disease, particularly in relation to the ability to perform physical activities.
Tapp
Robyn J
RJ
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Robyn.Tapp@med.monash.edu.au <Robyn.Tapp@med.monash.edu.au>
Dunstan
David W
DW
Phillips
Pat
P
Tonkin
Andrew
A
Zimmet
Paul Z
PZ
Shaw
Jonathan E
JE
D001315:Australia; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior
D001786:Blood Glucose