Last update:
   07-Nov-2019
 

Arch Hellen Med, 37(6), November-December 2019, 800-809

ORIGINAL PAPER

Assessment of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus registered with primary health services

V. Sionti,1,2 G. Charalambous,1 G. Papageorgiou,3 D. Peschos,4 P. Galanis,5 M. Gourni1
1Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus,
2"G. Hatzikosta" General Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina,
3Health Center of Derviziana, Ioannina,
4Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina,
5Department of Nursing, Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE Assessment of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) registered with primary health services and investigation of associated factors.

METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted with 340 patients with DM who were being followed in primary healthcare units (health centers and regional medical departments) in the prefecture of Ioannina. The participating patients completed the SF-12 questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life and the ADDQoL-19 that investigates opinions regarding the consequences of DM, and they provided demographic data. Clinical data were obtained, with their consent, from the patients' medical records.

RESULTS DM was reported to influence the quality of life of the patients negatively in both the physical and the mental domain. The greatest impact was noted in the items "leisure activities" and "freedom to eat". Multivariate analysis showed that those patients with easier access to primary healthcare units had better physical and mental health. Patients with easier access to hospitals and those who followed a healthy diet recorded better overall quality of life. Regarding treatment, patients who were treated with insulin recorded lower scores on the quality of life scales, and regular walking was associated with higher scores.

CONCLUSIONS Several factors influence the quality of life of patients with type 2 DM. These should be addressed as part of their health care, in order to improve the overall quality of their lives. In addition, easier access to care and better treatment of patients in primary healthcare units are essential to the management of the disease and the improvement of quality of life of patients with DM.

Key words: Primary health care, Quality of life, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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