Health-related quality of life and associated factors in people with diabetes at high risk of foot ulceration

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with diabetes-related foot complications has been increasingly reported, mostly from studies of people with a foot ulcer. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL and determine factors associated with HRQoL in people with diabetes at high risk of foot ulceration. Methods: In all, 304 participants enrolled in the Diabetic Foot Temperature Trial (DIATEMP) were included in the cross-sectional analysis. HRQoL was measured by the RAND® 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline. Potential factors associated with HRQoL were analysed using multiple linear regression analyses for the eight domains of the SF-36. Results: Participants were predominantly male (72%), mean age 64.6 (±10.5) years, 77% type 2 diabetes and mean duration of diabetes 20 (±14) years. Mean SF-36 domain scores for the General Health (49.2 ± 20.1), Role Physical (50.9 ± 44.7), Physical Function (58.5 ± 27.9) and Vitality domains (59.8 ± 21.6) were lower compared to the Mental Health (78.4 ± 18.0), Social Functioning (75.3 ± 24.2), Role Emotional (73.5 ± 38.9) and Bodily Pain (67.0 ± 27.0) domains. HRQoL was lower than Dutch population-based and general diabetes samples, but higher than in samples with an ulcer. Use of a walking aid was associated with lower HRQoL across all 8 SF-36 domains (β range − 0.20 to − 0.50), non-Caucasian descent was associated with lower HRQoL in 5 domains (β range − 0.13 to − 0.17). Not working, higher BMI and younger age were associated with lower HRQoL in 3 domains. Conclusions: People at high risk of diabetes-related foot ulceration have reduced HRQoL that varies across domains, with the physical domains most affected. Assessing mobility, ethnicity, BMI and job status may be useful in daily practice to screen for people who might benefit from interventions targeting HRQoL.