HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND SELF-CARE MANAGEMENT AMONG PEOPLE SUFFERING DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

To evaluate the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of diabetic patients along with and without foot ulcers and then to figure out elements influencing disease-specific HRQL for all those with foot ulcers. 355 diabetic patients, incorporating 239 along with foot ulcers (as considered group 1) and 116 without having foot ulcers (as considered group 2) have been examined over a cross-sectional setting. Socio-demographic as well as clinical factors had been documented and HRQL was examined through generic HRQL set of questions (SF-36) for most subjects. Concerning group 1, the degree of foot ulcers had been evaluated based upon Wagner's classification, and disease-specific HRQL considered making use of the Diabetes Foot Ulcer Scale (DFS). HRQL had been found to be considerably lowered (P = 0.0001) in group 1 than in group 2 for all domains of the SF-36. Independent reverse relationships had been discovered between effective HRQL in the DFS domain of Leisure and Wagner grade (OR = 0.136 [0.029-0.467]) and the number of foot ulcers (OR = 0.365 [0.191-0.678]). Age had been considerably related to a number of DFS domains including Daily Activities, Physical Health and Dependence. Our investigations encourage about the number and intensity of foot ulcers are connected with patient HRQL, specifically in terms of leisure activity disruption and restrictions due to treatment. These discoveries have ramifications for the evaluation, planning and management of patient care in diabetic foot disease.