Factors associations and with health-related quality of life in individuals with diabetic foot ulcers: cross-sectional study

What is it about?

Background: Patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) experience a significant decrease in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aim: To evaluate the HRQoL of patients with DFUs using the Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a general outpatient clinic of a university hospital, from November 2022 to September 2023, among 103 patients. A negative small significant correlation was found between diabetes’ length and the negative emotions domain (r=-0,1991; p=0,0460). Women showed significantly lower scores than men in physical health (p=0.0260), dependence/daily life (p=0.0439), and worried about ulcers/feet (p=0.0310) domains. Patients who smoke had low scores for the leisure domain (p=0.0121). Patients who did not follow a diabetes or diet and physical exercise showed lower scores in dependence/daily life (p=0.0014) and were more bothered by ulcer care (p=0.0117). Scores for the physical health (p=0.0355) and dependence domains (p=0.0195) were lower in patients who did not use oral antidiabetic agents. Patients using insulin had poor HRQoL for the dependence (p=0.0398) and negative emotions domains (p=0.0441). Conclusion: According to the results of this cross-sectional study, patients with diabetic foot ulcers exhibit a low HRQoL.

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