Health related quality of life in Nigerians with complicated diabetes mellitus – a study from Enugu, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus has serious consequences for patients and the presence of complications increases its morbidity and mortality including reduced quality of life. The health-related quality of life of adults with complicated diabetes in South-East Nigeria is largely unknown.

Aim: This study determined the health-related quality of life among adults with complicated diabetes mellitus seen at the foremost public tertiary hospital in South East Nigeria.

Methods: Consecutive subjects with complicated diabetes, attending the dedicated out-patient clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital were recruited over twelve weeks. Informed consent, socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained. Quality of life was determined for each patient using the validated WHOQoL-BREF instrument. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 23).

Results: One hundred and twenty patients (54.2% females) with 42.5% aged 18-45 years were recruited. The overall mean quality of life score was reduced for all patients and especially for the very young (aged 26-35 years).The lowest quality of
life score was seen in Domain 1 (physical health). Females had significantly better quality of life scores than males in social relationships domain. Presence of co morbidities had the worst impact on quality of life across all domains.

Conclusion: Patients with complicated diabetes mellitus in Enugu, South East Nigeria demonstrated a reduced quality of life across all domains. This was most prevalent in the very young patients. There is a need for optimal management of the condition in Nigeria.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, complicated, quality of life, Nigeria