Eva Turk1, Valentina Prevolnik Rupel2, Alojz Tapajner3, Stephen Leyshon4, Arja Isola5. 1. Det Norske Veritas, Healthcare & Biorisk, DNV Research and Innovation, Høvik, Norway. Electronic address: eva.turk@gmail.com. 2. Institute for Economic Research, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. 4. Det Norske Veritas, Healthcare & Biorisk, DNV Research and Innovation, Høvik, Norway. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This article reports a study to measure diabetes-dependent quality of life (QOL) in older Slovenian patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of older (age ≥ 65 years) patients with DMT2 at outpatient diabetic centers was conducted in all regions in Slovenia. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire was carried out between January and May 2012. Statistical analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 18.0. RESULTS: After exclusion of noneligible respondents, a total of 285 respondents were included in the analysis, which represented a 57% response rate. Lower QOL was significantly connected to a heart attack episode (odds ratio 2.42; 95% confidence interval 1.06-5.20) and to the perception of not having diabetes under control (odds ratio 0.36; 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.69). Eleven (3.9%) patients reported no impact of DMT2 on their QOL at all, while in the remaining respondents, particular reference was put to the effects on freedom to eat, dependency on others, and family life. There was no significant difference between the older people living in urban and rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study highlight the impact of DMT2 on QOL. DMT2 imposes a personal burden on individuals. Information on the QOL of older patients with diabetes is important to Slovenian policymakers and family physicians to identify and implement appropriate interventions for achieving better management of diabetes and ultimately improving the QOL of patients with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE: This article reports a study to measure diabetes-dependent quality of life (QOL) in older Slovenian patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of older (age ≥ 65 years) patients with DMT2 at outpatientdiabetic centers was conducted in all regions in Slovenia. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire was carried out between January and May 2012. Statistical analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 18.0. RESULTS: After exclusion of noneligible respondents, a total of 285 respondents were included in the analysis, which represented a 57% response rate. Lower QOL was significantly connected to a heart attack episode (odds ratio 2.42; 95% confidence interval 1.06-5.20) and to the perception of not having diabetes under control (odds ratio 0.36; 95% confidence interval 0.18-0.69). Eleven (3.9%) patients reported no impact of DMT2 on their QOL at all, while in the remaining respondents, particular reference was put to the effects on freedom to eat, dependency on others, and family life. There was no significant difference between the older people living in urban and rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study highlight the impact of DMT2 on QOL. DMT2 imposes a personal burden on individuals. Information on the QOL of older patients with diabetes is important to Slovenian policymakers and family physicians to identify and implement appropriate interventions for achieving better management of diabetes and ultimately improving the QOL of patients with diabetes.
Authors: Radhika Desai; Bhushan Khobaragade; Giles McCracken; Rebecca Wassall; John J Taylor; Susan M Bissett; Andrew S Pumerantz; Philip M Preshaw Journal: BDJ Open Date: 2021-02-04
Authors: Elena-Daniela Grigorescu; Cristina-Mihaela Lăcătușu; Ioana Crețu; Mariana Floria; Alina Onofriescu; Alexandr Ceasovschih; Bogdan-Mircea Mihai; Laurențiu Șorodoc Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-21 Impact factor: 3.390