Health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients.
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.
Al-Shehri
Amer H
AH
Ministry of Health, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. drsarmt@hotmail.com
Taha
Attia Z
AZ
Bahnassy
Ahmed A
AA
Salah
Mohammad
M
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
D001786:Blood Glucose
Public Health. 2001 May;115(3):229-35
11429721
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2001 Jan;51(1):21-7
11137178
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Dec 15;25(24):3130-9
11124729
Diabet Med. 1999 Jan;16(1):23-30
10229289
Am J Public Health. 1997 Sep;87(9):1484-90
9314801
J Clin Epidemiol. 1998 Nov;51(11):1171-8
9817135
J Gen Intern Med. 2002 Jun;17(6):412-9
12133154
Scand J Public Health. 1999 Jun;27(2):101-5
10421717
Int J Eat Disord. 2000 Jan;27(1):101-5
10590455
Diabetes Care. 2001 Nov;24(11):1870-7
11679449
Ann Saudi Med. 1996 Jul;16(4):381-5
17372456
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1999 Dec;46(3):259-67
10624793
Value Health. 2001 Sep-Oct;4(5):392-400
11705130
Qual Life Res. 2002 May;11(3):249-61
12074262
Value Health. 2000 Nov-Dec;3 Suppl 1:15-28
16464206
J Fam Pract. 2000 Aug;49(8):734-7
10947141
Arch Intern Med. 1999 Apr 26;159(8):837-43
10219929
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998 Oct;42(1):17-27
9884029
Diabet Med. 2001 Nov;18(11):877-82
11703431
Sports Med. 2001;31(11):809-18
11583105
Diabetes Care. 1997 Apr;20(4):562-7
9096981
J Adv Nurs. 2002 Jan;37(2):182-91
11851786
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2001 Apr;52(1):63-71
11182217