IDF21-0233 Health-related quality of life in patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers in The Arab World: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Countries of the Arab World have among some of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes in the world with an average prevalence of diabetes of 16.17% and a DFU 6% average prevalence of DFU. Despite these high figures and obvious influence of diabetes on HRQoL, there has been a relatively limited focus on this topic and the literature has been particularly deficient in studies from the Arab World particularly so in patients with DFUs. An understanding of the impact of DFU on the HRQoL of patients with DFU is necessary to guide policy makers, researchers and health care practitioners towards achieving the highest possible clinical outcomes, thereby improving HRQoL in patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review, summarize and analyse the available literature pertaining to HRQoL in patients with DFU across the different countries in the Arab World. To the authors’ best knowledge, this has not been previously be reviewed. Aim: To conduct a systematic review to identify the impact of diabetic foot ulceration on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals within the Arab World. Method: A PRISMA-guided systematic search for HRQoL studies in Arab populations was conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO. Relevant studies were critically appraised using the STROBE statement checklist. Results: A total of five studies were included. Three studies originated from Saudi Arabia, one from Jordan and one from Tunisia. The studies consistently demonstrated lower (poorer) HRQoL in patients with DFU and worse HRQoL compared to patients with diabetes and no DFU and to healthy subjects. Discussion: This review confirms the negative impact of DFU on HRQoL in individuals with diabetes. This review also highlights the scarcity of HRQoL studies from the Arab World. However, given that all studies included were conducted within the last seven years (2013-2019), this could reflect a growing interest in DFU and HRQoL in the Arab World, and could potentially indicate that more studies will follow. In light of this, there is a need for a renewed focus on the completion of a high-quality standardized approach of research in this part of the world.