[Type 2 diabetes mellitus and health-related quality of life: results from the Hortega Study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate which health-related quality of life (HRQOL) aspects are affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and influence of glycemic control and associated cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF).


METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the health coverage area of our hospital. Following a multiphase sampling a final sample of 495 people, representative of the general population, was analyzed. HRQOL was evaluated with the Short-Form 36 (SF-36).


RESULTS
After adjustment for sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education level, marital status, number of persons residing together, labor situation, social class and rural or urban ambience), comorbidity and CVRF (smoking, systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol level and body mass index), the patients with DM presented lower scores on four SF-36 scales: physical function, bodily pain, general health and vitality. Among people with diabetes systolic blood pressure, body mass index and glycosylated hemoglobin, but not lipid levels, were negatively correlated to some SF-36 scores.


CONCLUSIONS
In our population patients with DM present a poorer HRQOL, specifically in the physical dimensions, but neither their social function nor their mental health was affected. Hypertension, obesity and poor glycemic control are associated with worst subjective state of health.
Mena Martín
F J
FJ
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario del Río Hortega, Valladolid. franciscojavier.mena@hotmail.com
Martín Escudero
J C
JC
Simal Blanco
F
F
Bellido Casado
J
J
Carretero Ares
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires