Health-related quality of life and physical activity in persons at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons at risk for type 2 diabetes to that of the Finnish general population. In addition, the associations between physical activity and HRQOL at-risk persons were studied.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-two at-risk persons were recruited from health care centres in Central Finland. Participants filled out questionnaires including demographic characteristics, HRQOL (SF-36), frequency of vigorous physical activity (< or =2 times a week, once a week, less than once a week) and comorbidities.


RESULTS
HRQOL of at-risk persons differed significantly from that of the Finnish population in four of the eight dimensions of SF-36. Compared with reference values of the general population, the values of at-risk persons were worse for general health and pain, but better for mental health and role limitation (emotional) dimensions. Among at-risk persons those physically more active had less depressiveness and lower body weight. HRQOL decreased linearly with decreasing physical activity in all dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
People with elevated risk for type 2 DM have reduced HRQOL in general health and body pain dimensions, but mental health and emotional role dimensions were better compared with that of the population. Among at-risk persons, the benefits of physical activity on HRQOL were seen in all HRQOL dimensions. Regular exercise and body weight control may improve subjective health and reduce risk for type 2 DM and its consequences.
Häkkinen
Arja
A
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Central Finland Health Care District, Jyväskylä, Finland. arja.hakkinen@ksshp.fi
Kukka
Anna
A
Onatsu
Tanja
T
Järvenpää
Salme
S
Heinonen
Ari
A
Kyröläinen
Heikki
H
Tomas-Carus
Pablo
P
Kallinen
Mauri
M
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires