[How does intensive therapy of cardiovascular risk factors affect health-related quality of life in diabetic patients?].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in diabetic patients who have followed a protocol of intensive treatment of cardiovascular risks (CVR).


METHODS
Clinical trial randomised by cluster. A convenience sample of 65 primary care practitioners, randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. Patients were selected by systematic sampling from diabetic lists. The follow-up for the control group was by normal practice and the intervention group by using the intensive control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) protocol.


METHODS
Seventeen health-centres in the Valencia Community, Spain.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-four patients, 93 in the control group and 91 in the intervention group.


METHODS
patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2, aged between 45-75 years, DM for more than 2 years and less than 20 years and a cardiovascular risk (CVR) >20% after 10 years (Framingham equation). The exclusion criteria were: history of ischaemic heart disease, terminal illness, hepatic cirrhosis, renal failure, grade III-IV cardiac failure, and mental disorders. The patients self-completed the Spanish versions of the COOP/WONCA charts and a diabetes-specific tool (ADDQol questionnaire) at the start, and after 6 months and 12 months.


METHODS
Means of COOP/WONCA charts and ADDQol. Comparison between groups using Mann-Whitney U test, and the group follow ups using the Wilcoxon test.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in the COOP/WONCA charts. At 12 months the only significant difference was in the feelings chart (P=.024; control group 1.86+/-1.03: intervention group 2.23+/-1.11). A negative impact of diabetes was seen in all the dimensions of ADDQoL. The most negative impact of diabetes was related to diet. There were no significant differences between groups in the ADDQoL throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The HRQoL in diabetic patients is not affected by intensive therapy of cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes has a negative impact on HRQoL in the patients studied.
Botija Yagüe
M Pilar
MP
Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud Barrio del Cristo, Departamento 9, Agència Valenciana de Salut, Valencia, España. pilibotija@comv.es
Lizán Tudela
Luis
L
Gosalbes Soler
Victoria
V
Bonet Plá
Alvaro
A
Fornos Garrigós
Antonio
A
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003422:Critical Care; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors