Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its treatment impact patients' physical health as well as emotional and social wellbeing. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated factors among patients with T2DM at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia. A face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with T2DM at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We collected data using a validated Amharic version of the 5-level EuroQoL-5 dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to present patient characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to explore differences in the median scores of EQ-5D-5L utility and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Multivariable Tobit regression models were used to identify predictors of HRQoL. Utility scores were calculated using disutility weights of the Ethiopian general population. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. A total of 360 patients with T2DM participated. Mean (SD) age was 64.43(10.61) years. Reported health problems were mostly in the pain/discomfort (67.3%) dimension followed by mobility (60.5%), whereas the usual activities domain (34.1%) was the least health problem being reported. The median (IQR) EQ-5D-5L utility and EQ-VAS scores were 0.95 (0.88-0.96) and 80 (75.0-85.0), respectively. In multivariable Tobit regression models older age, having poor glycemic control, longer duration of diabetes, insulin usage, obesity, and having diabetes-related complications were significant negative predictors of HRQoL. Overall, patients with T2DM had lower HRQoL than the general population, which was attributed to being older age, longer duration of diabetes, insulin use, obesity, inadequate glycemic control, and diabetes-related complications. The utility index we generated can be used in future economic evaluations to inform decisions about alternative interventions and resource allocation.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing public health challenge associated with significant health, social, and economic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems [1, 2]
Patients with T2DM had lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than the general population, which was attributed to being older age, longer duration of diabetes, insulin use, obesity, inadequate glycemic control, and diabetes-related complications
The utility index we generated can be used in future economic evaluations to inform decisions about alternative interventions and resource allocation
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing public health challenge associated with significant health, social, and economic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems [1, 2]. HRQoL is a patient-reported outcome measure that evaluates the extent to how diseases, disability, and treatment affects the health status of patients [4]. It encompasses physical, functional, psychosocial, and emotional functioning domains of quality of life [5, 6]. Functional, psychosocial, and emotional functioning domains of quality of life [5, 6] It can provide information about a person’s overall health status because it considers both physical and mental health, and their respective impact on HRQoL [7]. Healthcare providers and researchers use self-reported HRQoL measures to evaluate the burden of disease and its treatments in addition to clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes [8, 9]. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated factors among patients with T2DM at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia
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