Quality of life of a patient with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study in rural South India.

BACKGROUND: With a high prevalence of diabetes in India, there is a need to study the impact of this disease on the quality of life (QoL) of the patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This facility-based cross-sectional study assessed the QoL of patients attending the diabetic clinic using the World Health Organization (WHO) QoL BREF instrument in Tamil Nadu. The QoL was analyzed domain-wise and various socio-demographic factors affecting the QoL were studied.

RESULTS: The mean total score of the QoL scale was 58.05 (95% CI, 22.18-93.88). Domain-wise, 63% had good physical, 69% had good psychological, 27% had good social and 85% had good environmental QoL scores. Males, currently married and those with BMI more than 25 had a statistically significantly better QoL compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes does impair the QoL of patients but not to a great extent. There is a need to specifically target and improve the QoL of women, widowed and separated, and non-obese diabetics who are at risk of a poor QoL. QoL assessment should be routinely practiced in diabetic clinics.