Relationship Between Depression And Quality Of Life In Nigerian Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Abstract

Background: Western studies have shown that depression is common in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), increased risk of hospital  admission and mortality, and decline in health related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between depression and HRQoL in patients with DFU in sub-Saharan Africans. Methods: Consecutive series of 42 outpatients with DFU recruited over a year period from consultant endocrinology clinics of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) completed the WHO Quality of life (QoL) scale – Brief version to assess their subjective QoL, and Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess for diagnosis of depression. Other clinical variables were obtained from the case files. Results: Twenty six (61.9%) patients had diagnosis of depression. Patients with depression had worse QoL than patients without depression on all dimensions of QoL. Factors independently associated with QoL include severity of ulcer, marital status, number of medical conditions, duration of diabetes and depression.
Conclusion: Depression adversely affects the QoL of patients with DFU. Intervention programmes to improve the QoL of patients with DFU need to incorporate early identification and treatment of depression. Future studies are warranted to investigate the impact of depression management on QoL in patients with DFU.