Clinico-epidemiological factors of health related quality of life among people with type 2 diabetes

AIM: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) and its clinical and epidemiological correlates among people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tabriz, Northwest of Iran, including a total of 394 people with type 2 diabetes using convenient sampling method from November 2014 to March 2015. General information including demographic, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors were collected by trained interviewers. Clinical information was retrieved from clinic’s record and QOL was assessed using the 26-item WHOQOL-BRIFE questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were performed to assess the related factors and QOL dimensions. RESULTS: The mean of overall health related QOL was 52.11 ± 11.53 and the maximum and minimum dimensions were respectively seen in psychological (60.38 ± 14.54) and social (38.32 ± 16.94) dimensions. The results of multiple linear regression showed a significant overall relationship between HRQOL and age (b = -1.48%, 95%CI: -0.03 and -2.93) level of education (b = 4.12%, 95%CI: 2.73 and 5.5), number of comorbidities (b = -2.41%, 95%CI: -3.89 and -9.41), and level of income (b = 1.98, 95%CI: 0.05 and 3.9), functional limitation (b = -3.59, 95%CI: -2.26 and -4.92) and psychological distress (b = -2.02%, 95%CI: -2.83 and -1.21). Level of education, functional limitation, psychological distress were associated with the score of physical, mental and environmental dimensions, and number of comorbidities was associated with the score of physical and mental dimensions. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, lifestyle modification and increasing facilities of clinics providing service can be effective steps to improve the QOL among people with type 2 diabetes.