OBJECTIVES : The study aimed to assess Health Related Quality of Life of diabetic patients and to measure the impact of demographic and disease characteristics of patients living with diabetes on their quality of life in Quetta, Pakistan.

METHODS : The study was conducted in Endocrinology out-patient departments of Bolan Medical Complex, Hospital; Sandeman Provisional Hospital, Quetta Pakistan and different out-patients clinics of Quetta, Pakistan within the months of March, 2017 and July, 2017. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by adopting EQ-5D Urdu version for determining HRQOL. Descriptive statistics determined the demographic and disease characteristics of the study participants. EQ-5D scores were compared by using Kruskal- Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test p<0.05. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictor affecting HRQOL.

RESULTS : Five hundred diabetic patients were approached by using a convenient sampling technique out of which 332 patients participated in the study. The cohort was predominantly represented by Type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients 321(96.7%) with their mean age of 53.8±11.9. Education status was frequently distributed among population with matriculation 77 (23.2%). Seventy EQ-5D health states were reported with an average of EQ-5D descriptive score of 0.39±0.4 and EQ-5D VAS score of 57.7±16.1. All demographic and disease characteristics were found to be statistically significant to affect HRQoL and upon multiple regression educational status was found as a positive predictor of quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS : A low HRQOL was concluded therefore it is recommended to impart patient education regarding treatment and self-management of symptoms of diabetes in improving their quality of life.