Health-Related Quality-of-Life and Diabetes Self-Care Activity in Elderly Patients with Diabetes in Korea

A critical goal in the management of elderly patients with diabetes is to improve their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to identify the factors affecting HRQOL in elderly Korean patients with diabetes. Participants were 365 elderly patients with diabetes who were treated in a general hospital in Korea. The data were analysed using independent t-tests, Pearson correlations, and stepwise multiple regression. The mean total HRQOL score was 74.77, and HRQOL showed positive correlations with activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSA). There was a negative correlation between HRQOL and Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS). Lower SGDS scores, higher SDSA scores, and being male were associated with higher HRQOL, with these variables explaining 57.5% of the variance in participants' HRQOL. Improvement in the HRQOL of elderly patients with diabetes requires the development of interventions for depression, and improvements in methods of diabetes self-care and gender-dependent managerial measures.

Diabetes and depressive symptoms in korean women: the fifth korean national health and nutrition examination survey (2010-2011)

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between diabetes and depressive symptoms among Korean women.

METHODS

We performed an analysis of data for 6,572 women aged 30 or over obtained from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2010 to 2011. We examined the presence of depressive symptoms and the treatment of depression according to diabetes status.

RESULTS

The presence of depressive symptoms was observed in 22.6% of subjects with diabetes. In the multiple logistic regression model, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 1.21) but the treatment of depression among diabetics was less common (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.55). Uncontrolled diabetes (glycosylated hemoglobin ≥ 7%) was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.69 to 1.73) among diabetics.

CONCLUSION

Physicians should manage individuals with diabetes in consideration of the presence of depressive symptoms, especially in those with uncontrolled diabetes.