Health‐related quality of life and its predictors among the type 2 diabetes population of Bangladesh: A nation‐wide cross‐sectional study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and identify its predictors among type 2 diabetes patients of Bangladesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This nationwide cross‐sectional study assessed HRQoL among 1,806 type 2 diabetes patients using the EuroQol‐5 Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐5L), and the responses were further translated into a single summary crosswalk index score using the UK time trade‐off value set. The predictors were determined using multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean EQ‐5D‐5L index score was 0.62 (standard deviation 0.25), and men scored better than women. More than half of the study participants (53.4%) were ranked as “average” HRQoL. Overall, 64% of respondents had a “problem” at least in one of the dimensions of the EQ‐5D‐5L, and the burden of reported “problems” was higher among women (70%). Among the five dimensions, the highest reported “problem” was 79.8% for anxiety/depression, 77.7% for pain/discomfort and 60.1% for mobility. However, younger participants (aged <30 years) showed a higher burden of anxiety/depression (95%) compared with the rest of the population. The specific predictors of average/good HRQoL (odds ratio >1) were being men, living in a rural area, married, literate, a monthly income >19,488 BDT, absence of comorbidity and had a duration of diabetes ≤5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Bangladesh’s type 2 diabetes patients had an “average” HRQoL based on the EQ‐5D‐5L index score. In broad terms, the identified predictors were sex, place of residence, marital status, literacy, monthly income, comorbidity and duration of diabetes.