Objective: To explore the impact of chronic complications of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) on quality of life (QOL) among T2DM outpatients in urban China.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1524 T2DM outpatients recruited from 15 hospitals in 4 major cities of China. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect data on general characters and complications of T2DM. SF-36 questionnaire (version 1) was used and self-completed by patients under the help from interviewers for those having difficulties in reading. T test, one-way ANOVA and generalized linear model were used to explore the association between complications of T2DM and quality of life.
Results: Complication was a significant predictor leading to poorer SF-36 subscale scores (decreased by 4.68 - 16.06 scores) and two summary scores (PCS, MCS). The scores of role-physical subscale (decreased by 22.45%) and role-emotional subscale (decreased by 16.28%) decreased much more than the other subscales in patients with complication. Overall, QOL was reduced by 11.02% in patients with complication. The QOL had a gradual decrease with the increasing number of complications. The average scores descended from 2.82 to 10.33 in the eight subscales with the increase of one complication.
Conclusion: Having complication or multiple complications seemed to be predictors of poor QOL among T2DM outpatients.