Health-Related Quality of Life Using EQ-5D-3L Utility Score Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Experiences from Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Hiluf Kalayou Haftu,1 Damen Hailemariam,2 Berhan Tassew,2 Zenawi Hagos Gufue,3 Woldu Aberhe4 1Department of Curative and Rehabilitative Services, Health Care Reforms, Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Tigray, Ethiopia; 2Department of Reproductive Health and Health Services Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Tigray, Ethiopia; 4Department of Adult Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Aksum University, Tigray, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Hiluf Kalayou Haftu, Email hilufk2021@gmail.comPurpose: To assess the health-related quality of life and associated factors among type 2 diabetic patients in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2019.Patients and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 415 type 2 diabetic patients coming to receive their routine outpatient follow-up service during the study period, from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2019, in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia. The EQ-5D-3L instrument was used to assess the patients’ self-reported health status and a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model was used to determine the independent factors associated with the health-related quality of life and P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.Results: The total mean quality of life score was 0.73 ± 0.23 with the total quality-adjusted life year of 2172.60 per life years and an average of 7.4 years of follow-up with type 2 diabetic treatments. Quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients with level two and three anxious patients were 77% and almost three times more likely to be affected than level one anxious patients (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.23– 1.86) and (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.24– 2.84) respectively. Older age, occupational status, lower monthly income, long waiting time, and presence of diabetic complications were significantly associated with impaired health-related quality of life.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a relatively low health status among type 2 diabetic patients. Quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients was mostly affected in the anxiety and depression component. It could be worthwhile if hospitals assign psychiatric professionals for the regular and effective counseling of diabetic patients.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, health-related quality of life, utility, EQ-5D-3L, Tigra