Assessment of health-related quality of life and its determinants among patients with diabetic foot ulcer in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The impact of foot ulceration on the psychosocial wellbeing of the Nigerian diabetic patients has not received enough attention. This study therefore attempted to evaluate the effect of diabetic foot ulcer on the quality of life of adults in a Nigerian diabetic population. Methodology: The impacts of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) on the quality of life (QoL) of 104 adults living with diabetes were assessed using The Diabetes Foot Ulcer Scale and their determinants. Results: The mean QoL score was 42.25. Fifty-five (53.4%) had poor QoL status while 48 (46.6%) had good QoL. Determinants of poor QoL outcome include low socio-economic status (p = 0.017), lack of a tertiary education (p= 0.027), no diabetes-education (p = < 0.001), low socioeconomic status (p = 0.017), multiple ulcers (p = 0.022) and Wagner grade >3 ulcers (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Majority of patients with DFU in UITH, Nigeria have poor QoL and most of the predictors of poor QoL outcome are preventable and modifiable.