Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Depression in a local Population

Abstract Background: Depression negatively affects the cognition, emotion, behavior, functionality, and quality of life of people and is associated with poor outcome, increased utilization of health-care resources and ultimately impacts negatively on the health systems of nations. The aim of this study therefor was to identify the determinants of health-related quality of life of patients with depression in Rivers State. Methods: The study with approval from the relevant ethical committees was a quantitative cross-sectional study using 400 respondents diagnosed with depression recruited via a systematic random sampling. Respondents from both the UPTH Neuropsychiatry Department and the Rivers State Neuropsychiatric outpatient clinics were administered the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the data using the SPSS version 24. Results: Out of 400 respondents, 386 returned their questionnaires with a response rate of 95%. Female constituted 54%. The mean QOL score was 43, with domain scores of 54, 45, 31 and 52 for physical, psychological, social and environment domains respectively. Age, income, employment, gender and education were the identified determinants of HRQoL. Conclusion: HRQoL is a subjective perception and is determined by a number of variables among patients with depression. Management of depression should therefore address a much as possible these variables to ensure optimal QOL