This article was originally published here
Quality of life in adult patients with diabetes in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study in outpatient departments.
BMJ Open. 2021, February 19; 11 (2): e043997
Authors: Lygidakis C, Uwizihiwe JP, Bia M, Uwinkindi F, Kallestrup P, Vögele C.
abstract
OBJECTIVES: To report on the disease-related quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus in Rwanda and to identify their predictors.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, part of the basic assessment of a cluster randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: NCD ambulances from nine hospitals across Rwanda.
PARTICIPANTS: Between January and August 2019, 206 patients were recruited as part of the clinical study. Eligible for participation were persons aged 21 to 80 years with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for at least 6 months. Illiterate people, patients with severe hearing or visual impairments, patients with severe mental illness, terminally ill patients and patients who are pregnant or in the postpartum period were excluded from the Diabetes-39 (D-39) questionnaire. A glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test was performed in all patients. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including medical history, disease-related complications and comorbidities.
Results: The worst affected dimensions of the D-39 were “fear and worry” (mean = 51.63, SD = 25.51), “sexual functions” (mean = 44.58, SD = 37.02) and ” Energy and Mobility “(mean =) 42.71, SD = 20.69). Disease duration and HbA1c values did not correlate with any of the D-39 dimensions. A moderating effect was found between the use of insulin and the achievement of a target HbA1c of 7% on the “diabetes control” scale. The most common comorbidity was high blood pressure (49.0% of the participants), which had a more negative impact on the scales “diabetes control” and “social stress” in women. Higher education was a predictor of lower impact on the “social stress” and “energy and mobility” scales.
CONCLUSIONS: Several variables have been identified as predictors of the five dimensions of quality of life studied, which offer opportunities for tailored prevention programs. Further prospective studies are needed to determine causal relationships.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03376607.
PMID: 33608403 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
