Health-related quality of life in subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes: pooled analysis of five population-based surveys in Germany

• Published in: Diabetic medicine Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 646 - 653
• Main Authors: Schunk, M., Reitmeir, P., Schipf, S., Völzke, H., Meisinger, C., Thorand, B., Kluttig, A., Greiser, K.-H., Berger, K., Müller, G., Ellert, U., Neuhauser, H., Tamayo, T., Rathmann, W., Holle, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2012; Blackwell
• Subjects: age; Age Distribution; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cost of Illness; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Germany - epidemiology; Health Status; health-related quality of life; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; pooled analysis; Quality of Life; sex; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Europe; Germany; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Human; Obesity; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Sex; Metabolic diseases; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Health-Related Quality of Life; pooled analysis; Population-based survey; Pool; Age; Endocrinology; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2011.03465.x

Diabet. Med. 29, 646–653 (2012) Aims  To estimate population values of health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus across several large population‐based survey studies in Germany. Systematic differences in relation to age and sex were of particular interest. Methods  Individual data from four population‐based studies from different regions throughout Germany and the nationwide German National Health Interview and Examination Survey (GNHIES98) were included in a pooled analysis of primary data (N = 9579). HRQL was assessed using the generic index instrument SF‐36 (36‐item Short Form Health Survey) or its shorter version, the SF‐12 (12 items). Regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between Type 2 diabetes and the two component scores derived from the SF‐36/SF‐12, the physical component summary score (PCS‐12) and the mental component summary score (MCS‐12), as well as interaction effects with age and sex. Results  The PCS‐12 differed significantly by −4.1 points in subjects with Type 2 diabetes in comparison with subjects without Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was associated with significantly lower MCS‐12 in women only. Higher age was associated with lower PCS‐12, but with an increase in MCS‐12, for subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes. Conclusions  Pooled analysis of population‐based primary data offers HRQL values for subjects with Type 2 diabetes in Germany, stratified by age and sex. Type 2 diabetes has negative consequences for HRQL, particularly for women. This underlines the burden of disease and the importance of diabetes prevention. Factors that disadvantage women with Type 2 diabetes need to be researched more thoroughly.