Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic progressive endocrine disease characterized by elevation of blood glucose level. This disease is associated with decreased life expectancy; increased morbidity and diminished quality of life. The objective of the study is to assess the correlation of glycaemic control, age and duration of disease with quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 patients (100 each from rural and urban centers), at field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, P.K.DAS, Pallakad. The study was conducted with the help of pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analysis was done with IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21. In the present study, 42% of the participants were in the age group of 61 to 70 years. Amongst them, 55.5% were males and about 24% of the participants have had the disease for the past 11 to 15 years. Males had higher quality of life (QOL) scores than females. QOL scores were also higher in participants of rural areas, without any complications/co-morbidities who were employed and with HbA1c level less than 7. Scores were minimum for the participants belonging to the age group of >70 years and of upper socio-economic class. Poor QOL was associated with increasing age, duration of disease and poor glycaemic control.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, quality of life, HbA1c.