title: Health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important health outcome, representing one of the most important goals of all health interventions. The objectives of this study were to determine HRQOL and the factors affecting it in type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in five primary health care (PHC) centers in the Al-Khobar area. From a random sample of 225 type 2 diabetic patients, 216 patients were included in the study along with 216 age- , sex- and nationality-matched controls. Nine patients refused to participate. Type 2 diabetic patients and controls were interviewed with the translated Arabic SF-12 questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages were 50.0A+/-10.0 years for cases and of 49.3+/-10.3 years for controls (P=.526). Type 2 diabetic patients had lower socioeconomic status and educational level than controls. Obesity was significantly higher in diabetics than controls. HRQOL in type 2 diabetic patients was significantly lower than controls. The mean physical component score was 41.3+/-8.9 for cases vs. 47.5+/-9.5 for controls (P<.001), and the mean mental component score 47.8+/-9.1 in cases vs. 51.5+/-9.4 in controls (P<.001). HRQOL was significantly lower in females than males (P<.001). HRQOL was impaired in uncontrolled patients (fasting plasma glucose [FPG]>130 mg/dL) in comparison with controlled patients (FPG</=130 mg/dL) (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQOL was lower in type 2 diabetic patients than controls and was affected by many factors. Females had lower HRQOL than males, possibly because of a higher incidence of obesity. Uncontrolled diabetic patients had a lower HRQOL than controlled diabetics. Improving HRQOL in diabetic patients is important.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. drsarmt@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Amer H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Shehri
authors.forename: Attia Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bahnassy
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
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