Quality of life evaluation in patients with diabetes using the PAID scale

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease which might interfere in people's quality of life (QOL). The present study aimed at evaluating the QOL of individuals with Type 2 diabetes (DM2) and its relation to socio-demographic and clinical variables. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study which used the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID scale) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate QOL. The study demonstrated that 37. 6% of the participants scored a PAID total equal or higher than 40. There was a negative correlation between total PAID score and four out of eight components of SF-36: pain, mental health, social aspects, and general state of health. Men presented a better evaluation in the domain "food-related problems", whereas women in the domain "treatment problems". Only the difference in relation to the latter association was statistically significant. Physical activity was associated with a better QOL. The study concluded that few participants showed a high level of emotional distress, and that physical activity seems to contribute to lessen such distress.