Background: Quality of life has become a more important health outcome with advancements in medical therapies and disease management, leading to better lives for people in general, particularly those living with chronic diseases. Diabetes has a direct impact on the physical, psychological, and social aspects of personal health. This study aimed to determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its predictors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 patients with type 2 diabetes who presented to primary healthcare centers in Samtah Town, Saudi Arabia, from March 2017 to February 2018. The HRQOL of the study participants was determined using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Multi-level linear regression was employed to ascertain the factors associated with HRQOL among patients with type 2 diabetes. Results: Female sex was significantly associated with higher HbA1c, anxiety, depression, and stress scores and a lower HRQL in the physical, psychological, and environmental health subscales than males (P<0.001). All subscales of HRQOL were significantly lower in the > 50 years age group. When compared to those with low levels of education (illiterate, primary, or elementary school), patients with secondary and bachelor’s degrees had significantly higher HRQOL in all subscales (P<0.001). In addition, there were significant differences in glycemic control and HRQL with a longer duration of diabetes, the presence of one or more diabetes complications, and the presence of comorbid hypertension (P<0.001). However, no significant differences in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) index were observed with a longer duration of diabetes and the presence of comorbid hypertension. Patients with diabetes on combined therapy and healthy diet and exercise showed significantly higher HRQOL on physical functioning (P<0.001). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with impaired health-related quality of life and mental health among study participants. Females appeared to have worse quality of life and mental health than males. Age, duration of diabetes, comorbid hypertension, diabetes complications, and level of education were significantly associated with lower HRQOL and mental health scores. Healthy diet and exercise, when combined with hypoglycemic and insulin therapy, were found to improve HRQOL and mental health among patients with diabetes. Scales based on a broad definition of health, such as the WHOQOL-BREF, are appropriate for use in primary care settings and can enhance patient management and care.

Background: Quality of life has become a more important health outcome with advancements in medical therapies and disease management, leading to better lives of people in general and in particular those living with chronic diseases. Diabetes has a direct impact on physical, psychological and social aspects of personal health. The aim of this study is to determine the health related quality of life and its predictors in patients with type 2 diabetesMethod: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 420 patients with type II diabetes presented to primary health care centers in Samtah town, Saudi Arabia from March 2017 to February 2018. The HRQoL of the study participants was determined with reference to the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Multi-level linear regression was employed to ascertain associated factors with HRQOL among patients with type II diabetes.Results: Female had significantly higher HbA1c, anxiety, depression and stress scores, and a lower HRQL in subscales physical, psychological and environmental health as compared with the male (P<0.001). All subscales of HRQL were significantly lower in age group > 50 years. When compared to those with low level of education (Illiterate, Primary or Elementary school), patients with secondary and bachelors education had significantly higher HRQOL in all subscales of HRQL (P<0.001). In addition, there were significant differences in glycemic control and HRQL with longer duration of diabetes, presence of one or more diabetes complications and presence of comorbid hypertension (P<0.001). However, no significant differences in DASS index were observed with longer duration of diabetes and the presence of comorbid hypertension. Diabetes patients on combined therapy and healthy diet and exercising showed significantly higher HRQOL on physical functioning (P<0.001).Conclusion: Presence of type 2 diabetes greatly impaired health related quality of life and mental health among the study participants. Female had the worsen quality of life and mental health compared with the male. The age, duration of diabetes, comorbid hypertension, diabetes complications and the levels of education were significant predictors of HRQOL and mental health. Healthy diet and exercising when combined with hypoglycemic and insulin therapy greatly improve HRQOL and mental health among diabetes patients. Scales that are based on a broad definition of health such as the WHOQOL-BREF are appropriate for use in primary care setting and can enhance patient management and care.