An Analysis of the Quality Of Life among Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients in Kuantan, Pahang

Introduction: Foot ulcer is one of the most serious complications associated with diabetes mellitus that mat resulted in a disability and impairment of health related quality of life. Materials and Methods: The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the factors adversely associated with quality of life among diabetic foot ulcer patients. Diabetic patients with evidence of diabetic foot ulcer attending outpatient orthopaedics and general surgical clinic of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan were recruited into this study. A set of validated SF-36 questionnaire was employed to evaluate the health-related quality of life for each patient. This study was registered with the National Medical Research Register (NMRR registration no. 17-1520-36332). Results: There is a slightly higher proportion of female among the 104 respondents. Its prevalence is most pronounces in the lower income group. Majority presented with Wagner stage 2 and 3. Amputation has been performed in 54% of these patients. Physical health score fair worse than mental health. Age, low socioeconomic status, presence of comorbidities, major amputation, ulcer at the forefoot and wheelchair usage associated with an adverse effect on the physical health aspect in these patients. Interestingly, smoker seems to score better on the mental health aspect of the quality of life. Conclusion: Diabetic foot ulcer affected physical health aspect much more than mental health aspect within the context of the quality of life.

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Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life among Jordanian Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Journal of Diabetes Research ◽

10.1155/2019/4706720 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ahmad Abu Alrub ◽

Dana Hyassat ◽

Yousef S. Khader ◽

Radwan Bani-Mustafa ◽

Nidal Younes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Diabetic Foot ◽

Short Form ◽

Foot Ulcer ◽

Diabetic Foot Ulcer ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Objective. This study is aimed at determining factors associated with the quality of life among Jordanian diabetic patients with foot ulcers. Methods. 144 consecutive patients with diabetic foot ulcers aged ≥ 18 years who were attending the diabetic foot clinic at a diabetes-specialized center were included in this study. Health-related quality of life was assessed using two self-administered questionnaires: Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) and Short Form-8 (SF-8). Results. Patients with diabetic foot ulcer had low mean DFS-SF score and low mean scores on physical and mental component summary scales (PCS8 and MCS8). Males had significantly higher DFS-SF score indicating better health-related quality of life than females (P value 0.038). A patient with stressful life events had significantly lower health-related quality of life using DFS-SF scale and SF-8 summary scales. Patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and patients with obesity had lower DFS-SF and PCS8 quality of life. Conclusion. Patients with diabetic foot ulcer had low quality of life. Female gender, obesity, presence of PVD, and stressful life events were the most important factors associated with lower quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcer.

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