Quality of Life of People Living with Type 2 Diabetes in Ho, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.

²Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

³School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.

⁴Diabetic Clinic Ho Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service Ho, Volta Region, Ghana.

⁵Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diagnostic Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

^*Corresponding Author

James Osei-Yeboah

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences

School of Allied Health Sciences

University of Health and Allied Sciences

Ho, Ghana.

Email: joyeboah@uhas.edu.gh

Abstract

Background: Health related quality of life represents the effect of an illness on a patient, as perceived by the patient, and yields complementary information used as an outcome measurement. This study evaluated the quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus and its relationship with clinical laboratory endpoint parameters. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January, 2016 and April 2016. One hundred and fifty (150) diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic at the Ho Municipal Hospital were recruited for this study. Using a semi-structured instrument, data including clinical, socio-demography and quality of life was captured. Serum creatinine and fasting blood glucose were estimated for all the respondents. Results: Among the total study population, diabetes affected the quality of life of 12% severely and majority (52%) moderately. Risk of anxiety and worry as well as sexual dysfunction was associated with the male gender. Increasing renal insufficiency was observed to degrade the overall quality of life of a diabetic patient. Conclusion: People living with diabetes suffer from deteriorating quality of life. The severity however is influenced by gender and clinical endpoints such as renal insufficiency and complications.

Keywords: Health Related Quality of Life, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes 39, Clinical end-point

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