Factors associated with quality of life of diabetic patients treated in a Reference Service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Acurcio, Francisco

Factors associated with quality of life of diabetic patients treated in a Reference Service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Monday, 18 August 2014

Exhibit hall (Dena'ina Center)

Adriana R Mata, MS , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Michael Ruberson, BS , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Anne Borges , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Leonardo M Diniz, PhD , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Augusto Guerra Jr, PhD , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Juliana Álvares, PhD , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Francisco A Acurcio, PhD , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a serious public health problem and studding its impact on patients´quality of life (QoL) has become increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL of diabetic patients and its associated factors.

METHODS: Patients over 18 years with DM treated at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) reference service were interviewed about sociodemographic, clinical and QoL aspects during the period of September to December 2013. QoL was measured by the EuroQol questionnaire (Eq5D). Descriptive analysis, correlation, linear regression, univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed.

RESULTS: We interviewed 228 patients. Of these, 66% were women, 74% nonwhite and 49% were married or living together, 61% had type 2 DM and 39% type 1. Regarding education, 43% had more than 8 years of study. About 70% belonged to social classes C and D. About the treatment type, 71% used insulin, alone or in combination with oral hypoglycemics. The mean QoL of diabetic patients was 0.74 (SD = 0.19), lower than the general population of Minas Gerais. Multivariate analysis showed that being non-white race, having ‘diabetic foot’, nephropathy, neuropathy, depression and cancer (p<0.05) significantly decrease the QoL of patients. The greater the number of medications the lower the QoL (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The most common comorbidities associated with DM negatively impacted the QoL of these patients, which points to the need for better disease control, monitoring and more educational activities that effectively contribute to the self-care.