Health related quality of life in both types of diabetes in Shiraz, Iran

Aim: We assessed the dimensions of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in our area, Shiraz, Iran. Method: In this cross sectional study 300 diabetic patients of both types (I, II) in two specified diabetic healthcare centers and two hundred concomitants of the patients as healthy individuals were enrolled conveniently. Reliable and valid Persian SF-36 questionnaire were used for assessing HRQOL. Data were entered in SPSS 15 and p value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Result: Difference of scores between patient and control group in scales of physical functioning, physical problems, body pain, general health perception, social functioning, emotional problems, p-value were less than 0.001 while for vitality p-value was 0.102 and 0.200 for mental health. HRQoL scores of two genders did not differ significantly in patients. There were significant linear correlation between age, educational state, duration of disease and some aspects of QOL. Difference of mean score of HRQOL in different marital status was statistically significant in some scales. Discussion: Diabetic patients in our study had lower scores in all scales of HRQOL when compared with control group. Worst score in patient group was attributed to general health perception. Mental status was influenced in patients group in this study. Some patients indicated they feel downhearted and blue and some mentioned they felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer them up. Conclusion: lower HRQOL in diabetic patients needs to be addressed by special appropriate actions and interventions. These actions should be first studied regarding efficacy and cost effectiveness and if these interventions addressing individuals, requires mention to health literacy of population.