Quality of life of elderly with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus can interfere with quality of life of individuals. Thus, this study aimed to compare the scores of quality of life of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and individual income, educational level and number of functional disability. It is a household survey in which 358 elderly were interviewed using structured instruments, WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. Absolute frequencies and percentages and ANOVA and Tukey-F (p<0.05) tests were applied. Most subjects were female, 60├70 years, married or living with partners, 1|-|3 years of study and individual monthly income of a minimum wage. The lack of income and lower income were related to lower scores of quality of life for psychological and environmental aspects and the autonomy and past activities, present and future. Elderly without education presented lower scores in the environment domain. The largest number of functional disability was related to lower scores for physical, psychological, environmental and social relations, as well as on aspects such as sensory abilities, autonomy, past activities, present and future, and social participation. This study highlights the need to consider the socio-demographic and health factors as impairable on quality of life of a diabetic elderly.