[The impact of complication on quality of life among diabetic patients in urban China].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the impact of chronic complications of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) on quality of life (QOL) among T2DM outpatients in urban China.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1524 T2DM outpatients recruited from 15 hospitals in 4 major cities of China. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect data on general characters and complications of T2DM. SF-36 questionnaire (version 1) was used and self-completed by patients under the help from interviewers for those having difficulties in reading. T test, one-way ANOVA and generalized linear model were used to explore the association between complications of T2DM and quality of life.


RESULTS
Complication was a significant predictor leading to poorer SF-36 subscale scores (decreased by 4.68 - 16.06 scores) and two summary scores (PCS, MCS). The scores of role-physical subscale (decreased by 22.45%) and role-emotional subscale (decreased by 16.28%) decreased much more than the other subscales in patients with complication. Overall, QOL was reduced by 11.02% in patients with complication. The QOL had a gradual decrease with the increasing number of complications. The average scores descended from 2.82 to 10.33 in the eight subscales with the increase of one complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Having complication or multiple complications seemed to be predictors of poor QOL among T2DM outpatients.
Liu
Zhao-lan
ZL
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Fu
Chao-wei
CW
Luan
Rong-sheng
RS
Zhan
Si-yan
SY
Chen
Wei-qing
WQ
Wang
Wei-bing
WB
Xu
Biao
B
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires