Health-related quality of life and its determinants among South Indian type 2 diabetes patients with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Background and aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in type-2 diabetics. The quality of life among those patients was not explored well. Hence, the present study aimed to correlate the determinants with the quality of life (QoL) among the study subjects. Methods A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at Bhargavi Gastro and Surgical Hospital, Warangal, Telangana, with 358 subjects, from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2021 (24 months). A 358 of cohort type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects were recruited with 1:1 of NAFLD and without NAFLD. QoL was determined with the SF-36 questionnaire, which comprises eight domains. Statistical analysis included t test, chi-square, and Spearman correlation performed with SPSSV.25 software. Results Out of 358 subjects, 200 (55.8%) were males and 158 (44.1%) were females. Glycemic parameters (FBS and HbA1c), lipid profile, liver transaminases (SGPT and SGOT), and serum uric acid levels were significantly high in NAFLD subjects ( p < 0.05). The SF-36 score, four domains (physical, energy, mental health, and pain) are significantly reduced in NAFLD subjects p < 0.05). A significant correlation between blood urea and impaired physical, emotional mental, and general health was observed in NAFLD subjects. In the NAFLD subjects, elevated FBS levels lead to impairment of physical and emotional status. Social functioning, general health, and pain were impaired with BMI and TG levels in NAFLD subjects. The mean, SD of SF-36 scores showed no significant difference in contrast to HbA1c among both groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusion The decreased QoL was observed in subjects of T2DM with NAFLD. The QoL is significantly influenced by elevated FBS, SGPT, SGOT, and TG levels. Hence, clinicians need to be vigilant and implement strategies to improve the quality of life in type 2 diabetics with NAFLD.