Publication:

Socio demographic correlates of quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus

Background The major cause contributing to high prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapid developmental urbanization, sedentary lifestyle, and change in dietary habits. Due to all these repressed emotions diabetics tend to miss doses over a period of time leading to increased mortality which cumulatively affect QoL.

Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among 264 patients suffering with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The quality of life was assessed using modified WHO-QOL BREF questionnaire under 4 domains viz. physical health, psychological, social relationship and environment.

Results Our study reported 43.2% individuals had overall poor QOL score. Overall QOLS in different domains varied significantly with age, socioeconomic status, and type of family. Gender and religion were not found to be significantly related to QOL. Psychological domain, social domain came out to be least adversely affected in terms of poor QOLS. Overall QOLS was found adversely affected among middle age and elderly individuals of higher SES with co-morbid conditions. Age, and socioeconomic status came out to be the significant correlates of poor QOL.

Conclusions The study suggests the need of improving socio-economic conditions and better management of diabetes in order to reduce complications for improving QOL.