Health-related Quality of Life and Self-Esteem in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Results of a Cross-sectional Comparative Study

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-esteem in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted among 35 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending outpatient clinics in Pouso Alegre, Brazil. Fifteen (15) patients with and 20 without a DFU participated in the study. Demographic variables were obtained and HRQoL and self-esteem were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. In both groups, 80% of patients were women. Average age did not differ significantly between the DFU and control groups (average 56 [SD 8.42] and 52 years [SD 6.68], respectively) but disease duration was significantly longer (P <0.001) in the DFU (mean 12 years, range 3-24 years) than in the control group (mean 8 years, range 1-21 years). Mean HRQoL scores in all domains were lower in the DFU than in the control group with significant differences in the following domains: physical functioning (P = 0.043), role physical (P = 0.003), social functioning (P = 0.022), and role emotional (P = 0.001). Self-esteem scores were similar in both groups. The results of this study confirm that patient HRQoL is negatively affected by the presence of a DFU. Wound prevention programs for patients with DM may help reduce the scope of this problem while DFU treatment programs that include psychological support may improve patient QoL.