Health-related quality of life and treatment compliance with diabetes care.

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and treatment compliance among a sample of patients with diabetes. A sample of 198 employees with diabetes of a large southeastern health plan, who were continuously enrolled in 2004, was surveyed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)--a measure of HRQOL. Of the 198 identified members, 111 (56%) completed and returned the SF-12. Treatment compliance was measured using medical claims data. Compliance scores were then calculated as the number of American Diabetes Association (2005) recommended guidelines completed in 2004. These guidelines include two hemoglobin tests, a cholesterol test, a microalbuminuria test, and an eye exam. Compliance scores ranged from zero (no treatments) to five (all treatments). Both age and the Mental Composite Score (MCS) of the SF-12 were significant predictors of compliance. Age was positively related to compliance, which means that compliance with treatment guidelines increases as a person ages. MCS was negatively related to compliance, which means that those who score lower on the MCS are more likely to be compliant with diabetes care. Results of this pilot study indicate that disease management programs may need to focus special attention on those people with diabetes who are younger and have better mental health. Moreover, factors other than past utilization of care or predicted costs may be beneficial to consider in the inclusion criteria for disease management programs.