BackgroundDiabetic patients are more than twice as costly to manage as non-diabetic patients, due mainly to the high costs associated with management of diabetic complications. As in most nations of the world, the number of patients with DM is increasing every year in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to determine relation between quality of the life and disease and social factors of patients with type 2 diabetes in Lithuania.Material/MethodsIndependently prepared questions about the subjects of the survey were: gender; age; weight; education; social and marital status; duration of the disease (in years); treatment method; complications; morbidity with arterial hypertension; change in dietary habits after diagnosis of diabetes (started to eat accordingly to recommendations of the therapist); how often nourishment is taken accordingly to recommendations of the therapist; if beginning to exercise after diagnosis of the diabetes; and if exercising, exercises at least 2–3 times per week. Body mass index was calculated as the relation between body mass in kg and height m square (BMI=kg/m2). The hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale was used for the evaluation of depression and anxiety. Quality of life of patients was evaluated with the SF-36 questionnaire. We surveyed 1022 patients with type 2 diabetes (372 men and 650 women). Association between quality of the life and explanatory parameters (disease and social factors) were analyzed using the logistic regression analysis model.ResultsWe found that women had lower scores than men in all fields of quality of life (p<0.001). Peroral treatment had a positive impact on the quality of life (QL) fields of the role limitations due to emotional problems (ORa 0.16. 95% CI 0.07–0.34; p<0.001). Treatment with insulin had a positive effect on restriction of activity because of emotional problems (ORa − 0.23. 95% CI 0.11–0.49; p<0.001) and mental health (ORa − 0.38. 95% CI 0.19–0.78; p=0.008), but had a negative impact on bodily pain (ORa − 3.95. 95% CI 1.41–11.09; p=0.009) and physical health (ORa − 4.14. 95% CI 2.03–8.47; p<0.001).ConclusionsAge and BMI are less important factors that can influence quality of life. Peroral treatment positively acted on the role limitations due to emotional problems, bodily pain, and mental health, but had a strong negative effect on emotional state.

Europe needs a comprehensive picture of national and regional systems of public health research, in order to critically assess them and better adapt to changes and challenges, and to achieve a European Research Area for public health.

Most European countries have competitive programmes and calls relevant for public health research, but they are poorly identified. Only a minority of countries present a wide range of topics and specific fields. Effort is needed to develop classifications for public health programmes and calls for public health research, improve information (including financial) collection to enable systematic comparisons and build greater recognition of public health research within research communities, with national and European research funding organizations, and for practitioners and policymakers.

The impacts of European Union social innovations in public health markets can be identified through national discussions. Further attention should be given to understanding drivers and incentives for successful public health innovations.

Background. Currently, there are a lot of methodologies for evaluating the quality of life both in West Europe and in the USA. The majority of them are grounded on the multi-disciplinary, systemic principles. Meanwhile, in some countries and in Lithuania, the studies of the quality of life are more focused on the fields of health and medicine. According to the modern conception of sustainable development, the quality of life is a result of an integral interaction of quality of life indicators. The modern concept of the quality of life is a particular social construct comprising different social dimensions.Materials and methods. A sample of 1 200 persons was formed under the quota of age and gender. Its main point is that the health, social, economic, environmental and age elements of the quality of life comprise an integral, purposeful social system.Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0. The data were analyzed using the method of factorial analysis which accounts for the correlations among all indicators. Six latent factors were determined, and they explained 45.55% of the general dispersion. The position of beliefs was determined as the underlying latent factor formed by spiritual and social indicators. This factor explained 10.51% of the general dispersion. Also, in the systematic process, another latent factor -the need for medical services -plays an important role which increases with age, especially in people aged over 50 years.Results. The results showed that at about 50 years all latent factors acquire negative values, i. e. at the age of about 46-50 years the social risk of the quality of life, determined by health, becomes greater.Conclusions. The research helped to determine qualitative changes in the quality of life at the age of 45-50 years when essential changes in the priorities of the quality of life occur in all its domains.