Impact of diabetes mellitus on generic health-related quality of life measured by EQ-5D-5L, characterization and disutilities for adverse factors

1) to describe generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by EQ-5D-5L in patients with diabetes (DM), 2) to identify adverse variables for HRQoL in DM estimating disutilities and 3) to address the impact of DM on EQ-5D-5L compared to general population (GP).

EQ-5D-5L was characterized according to several clinical and sociodemographic variables in DM patients recruited from two hospitals in the Basque Country (Spain) (n = 133). Disutilities of factors independently reducing HRQoL were estimated by a two-part model. EQ-5D-5L scores in DM patients were compared with those from GP.

In DM patients, utility index (mean = 0.823, SD = 0.191) and visual analogue scale (mean = 69.6, SD = 19.1) depended on: sex, age, occupation status, level of studies, BMI, exercising, DM history, glycemic control, comorbidities and presence of severe diabetes, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), renal and pulmonary diseases. Patients reporting problems were 54.1%, 45.1%, 36.8%, 30.1% and 11.3% for pain/discomfort, mobility, anxiety/depression, usual activities and self-care dimensions, respectively. Disutilities for PVD, ≥ 75-year-old, no exercising and being female were -0.106, -0.104, -0.098 and -0.096, respectively, compared to the corresponding reference. EQ-5D-5L diminished in DM patients compared to GP, overall, in females and males.

HRQoL is negatively affected by DM by clinical and sociodemographic factors in this cohort of study. Key determinants impairing HRQoL of DM patients here are being female, ≥ 75-year-old, do not exercising and having PVD.