QUALITY OF LIFE OF DIABETIC PATIENTS

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.1593212328032

• Palavras-chave: diabetes, diabetic foot ulcer, quality of life

• Keywords: diabetes, diabetic foot ulcer, quality of life

• Abstract:

  OBJECTIVES This study aims to evaluate the impact of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) on the quality of life of diabetic patients with this condition.  METHODS The author of the project prepared an unprecedented national questionnaire, using as inspiration existing international questionnaires. The questions were separated into 4 groups: general demographics of the population studied, specific demographics of diabetes, subjective perception of the patient about his disease and subjective perception of the patient about its functionality.  The questionnaire was applied in 50 patients with DFU (study group) and 50 diabetic patients without DFU (control group). A cross-sectional study was conducted with the data collected in order to evaluate the quality of life of this population. RESULTS 100 diabetic patients participated in the study, half of them with diabetic foot complication (study group), while the other half was not carrier (control group). There was no statistical significance when comparatoring age, weight and BMI of these patients. However, when we analyzed the gender there was significance: 74% of the patients in the study group were men, while in the control group, 46% of the patients were male.   The questionnaire presents 25 questions, of which only 7 questions were able to differentiate between the two groups studied, p<0.05. Questions about treatment, functionality and suffering seem to be sensitive themes to the population studied. CONCLUSION The results found reinforce that diabetic foot negatively impacts mental health and quality of life of patients suffering from this complication. Patients with diabetic foot reported greater suffering, lower functionality and lower degree of confidence in treatment when compared to diabetic patients who did not develop this complication.  Thus, psychological and multidisciplinary interventions can be validated strategies to increase the degree of satisfaction with the life of this severely affected population.