Quality of life of Czech patients with diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, and its dependence on the duration of ulceration, the use of insulin therapy, smoking and Body Mass Index. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A standardized questionnaire, the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale, was used for data collection. A quantitative study included 247 adults with diabetic foot ulcers. Data collection was performed between April 2014 and December 2014 in 18 podiatric outpatient and chronic wound outpatient clinics spread out over the entire Czech Republic. Results: The study found that the highest average index of quality of life was in the domain of noncompliance (84.6), while the lowest was in the domain of leisure (49.2). The duration of diabetic foot ulcer has significant influence on three domains of quality of life: physical health (p = 0.022), noncompliance (p = 0.044) and positive attitude (p = 0.018). The use of insulin therapy has an important influence on three domains of quality of life: physical health (p = 0.002), daily activities (p = 0.012) and emotions (p = 0.029). Statistically significant differences in quality of life scores have been found between smokers and non-smokers in two domains: noncompliance (p < 0.0001) and positive attitude (p = 0.003). Conclusions: In our sample it was demonstrated that quality of life is dependent on the duration of diabetic foot ulcers – the longer the duration, the lower the quality of life. The dependence was revealed in three domains: physical health, noncompliance and positive attitude. The use of insulin therapy as well as smoking proved to have an impact on the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The use of insulin therapy as well as smoking proved to have an impact on the quality of life of patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Prevention, early detection and monitoring of diabetic foot ulcers is necessary in order to prevent continuing deterioration of quality of life of diabetic patients.