The quality of life of the patients with diabetes type 2 using EQ-5D-5 L in Birjand

Abstract

Background: Due to high prevalence of diabetes and its complications, evaluating of the patients' quality of life is critical. EQ-5D-5 L is a valid tool for assessing the quality of life in chronic diseases including diabetes. The present study conducted to illustrate the quality of life for the patients who referred to the Diabetes clinic and determine its relationship with their demographic and clinical characteristics in Birjand in 2017. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected through a systematic sampling in 2017. Data were collected using a checklist including patients' demographic, clinical and laboratory information and the EQ-5D-5 L. Data were entered the SPSS (22) software, analyzed by independent sample T-test, ANOVA, Chi-Square and logistic regression tests. Statistical significance was inferred at α = 0.05. Results: Mean age for the participants was 58.1 ± 9.6 years. The mean score for the quality of life based on the EQ-5D-5 L and VAS scale were 0.89 ± 0.13 and 65.22 ± 9.32, respectively. Moderate and severe problems were found in the anxiety/depression dimensions in 12% of the patients, while these numbers for the presence of pain/discomfort and mobility were slightly higher (13.7 and 13.6%, respectively). The mean scores for quality of life and VAS were significantly higher in the men, employed and patients < 50 years age. Conclusion: The quality of life for the type 2 diabetes patients is affected by numerous factors including sex, occupation, duration of the disease and the presence of complications such as neuropathy and nephropathy.

Health-related quality of life and its associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…In addition, the mean EQ-5D-5L index for diabetes patients in this study was lower than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; 0.80) 32 but higher skin diseases (0.73), 33 respiratory diseases (0.66), 34 dengue fever (0.66), 35 frail elderly (0.58), 36 and elderly after fall injury (0.46). 37 While the mean and median obtained from our study are not consistent with those of Abedini et al, 11 who found 0.89 for EQ-5D-5L and 65.22 for VAS in Iran, Abedini et al's study is the only study that addressed the HRQoL by using the UK EQ-5D-5L value set based on local data in Birjand region, Iran. Part of this higher HRQoL may be due to difference in value sets used to calculate the EQ-5D-5L in two studies.…”

“…The mean VAS scores were higher in employed subjects. This finding is consistent with that of the recent studies evaluating HRQoL of diabetic patients in Iran 11,14 and Palestine. 45 This could be due to the fact that employed patients in developing countries have more opportunities to have a better socioeconomic status.…”

“…The percentage of individuals reporting problems in each of the EQ-5D dimensions showed that pain and mobility were the most common problems among subjects. This pattern was similar to those reported recently in a local survey in Birjand, Iran, 11 and the surveys conducted in Saudi Arabia 38 and Jordan. 28 The results of the difference in HRQoL score in each factor and effective factors on HRQoL are discussed in two separate groups: demographic and clinical factors.…”

“…Studies carried out on the HRQoL of the patients with T2DM often found that mean HRQoL of male was higher than that of the female patients. 11,14,28,38 These findings were observed in our study. The main reason for higher HRQoL in men compared to women is the higher level of physical activity in men in developing countries like Iran, as shown in a systematic review on physical activity.…”

“…10 Only one study has used EQ-5D-5L for patients with T2DM in Iran. 11 The study used the UK EQ-5D-5L value set that is not appropriate for Iranian patients due to substantial differences between two countries' populations in terms of health, cultural, and socioeconomic status. According to a report by World Health Organization (WHO), Yazd city, a world heritage city located in center of Iran, has the highest prevalence (14.9%) of T2DM based on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among all cities of Iran.…”