Background: Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) assessment is considered an important aspect of outcome in diabetes treatment.
Objective: We investigated the association between QOL and clinical characteristics of patients with diabetes.
Methods: Among 571 patients with type 2 diabetes and 958 healthy control subjects, the target subjects who were matched by age and sex were divided into two groups (504 in the diabetic group and 504 in the nondiabetic group). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) was used to evaluate HR-QOL. Unpaired Student’s tests and Pearson’s chi-square test were used for statistical analyses.
Results: (1) Scores of physical functioning, role physical (physical and mental), general health, and social functioning were significantly lower in the diabetic group than in the nondiabetic group (P<0.01). (2) The physical component summary score (PCS) was significantly lower in the diabetic group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the mental component summary score (MCS) between the two groups. (3) The PCS score was significantly decreased (P<0.01) with age in both groups. Reduction in the PCS score was faster in the diabetic group than the nondiabetic group, with an approximate difference of 11 years. (4) In the diabetic group, patients with retinopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy demonstrated a significant reduction in the PCS score (P<0.01); however, no difference was observed in the MCS score. (5) Regarding the association of complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy, more were the complications, significantly lower was the PCS score (P<0.01).
Conclusions: QOL was significantly decreased in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with that in healthy subjects. QOL of patients with diabetic complications was significantly decreased; thus, such conditions should be taken into account when providing treatment to patients with diabetes.
H. Murakami: None. T. Fujita: None. M. Murabayashi: None. S. Mizushiri: None. S. Osonoi: None. Y. Matsuhashi: None. M. Daimon: None.