Background: Assessing Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic diseases generate critical information to enhance the efficiency of disease control especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This information in limited in Nigeria, particularly for diabetes mellitus
Objectives: This study evaluated the HRQoL among patients with Type 2 diabetes using the EQ-5D-5L instrument, as well as the determinants of health status among the patients at a teaching hospital in southeast Nigeria
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 210 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending diabetic outpatient clinic at the Parklane Teaching Hospital in Enugu, SE Nigeria, between July and September 2021. Using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire instrument, patients were asked to evaluate their health status around the five dimensions (5D) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The Zimbabwe value set was used to evaluate the patients’ responses to obtain the EQ-5D score, while multiple regression technique was used to assess associations between the variables to determine the predictors of health status.
Results: Overall, 202 respondents completed the questionnaires successfully. Most of the patients 67 (33.1%) were between 60 - 69 years old, averaging 62.02 (±13.16) years while most (63%) were females. Along the five dimensions there was no response on ‘extreme problem’. ‘No problem’ response recorded the highest frequency, 46% under self care. The highest frequency of ‘severe problems’ (81%) was recorded among respondents with co-morbidities under mobility dimension. The mean EQ-VAS and EQ-5D index/utility scores were 69.13(±9.16) and 0.78(±0.20) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the VAS scores and age groups, treatment duration or diabetic complications/co-morbidity, but a significant difference in VAS scores was seen according to the level of education, 2.09 (95%CI:0.22-3.96) and employment status2.03 (95%CI:0.08-3.98). Education was the most significant predictor of utility on the EQ-5D score, 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00-0.06)
Conclusions: The generally low utility scores among the patients highlight the significant impact of diabetes on the quality of life of the patient’s population in the study area, which is worsened by poor education, and unemployment. Findings contribute information for estimating the cost-effectiveness of interventions for enhanced efficiency of diabetes control.
