Investigation of physical and mental factors for quality of life of diabetic patients in health facilities

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the physical and mental factors that influence the quality of life of diabetic patients. It was a cross-sectional study involving respondents from Mayo Hospital (MH) in Lahore and Jinnah Hospital (JH) in Lahore. Data were collected using the standardized SF-12 questionnaire and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The student t-test and Chi-square test were employed to compare means and percentages, respectively, while a regression model assessed the factors affecting domain scores. A total of 370 diabetic patients participated, with 220 from MH and 150 from JH. The mean age was 61.3 ± 10.8 years at MH and 56.5 ± 12.4 years at JH. The mean fasting blood sugar levels were 170.6 ± 68.2 mg/dL at MH and 187.1 ± 68.5 mg/dL at JH. The Mental Component Summary scores were higher than the Physical Component Summary scores in both facilities. Respondents with fasting blood sugar levels below 130 mg/dL exhibited higher domain scores. Significant factors affecting the quality of life included age, family history, duration of diabetes mellitus, and fasting blood sugar levels. This study concludes that maintaining blood glucose levels below 130 mg/dL is associated with improved domain scores and, consequently, a better quality of life. It is recommended to raise awareness of various risk factors to enhance the quality of life for diabetic patients.