Increased body fat, physical inactivity, and hypertension are associated with poor quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetes is a significant health problem that affects quality of life in the medium and long term.

Objective: To identify the association between quality of life with comorbidity, metabolic control, and lifestyle in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in 392 patients. Glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure, weight, waist circumference and body composition were measured. Diabetic neuropathy, renal disease, visual health, diet and physical exercise were measured. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured with the 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36).

Results: The mean age was 54.6 years, 68 % were women, median years of diabetes diagnosis was 7 years. Eighty percent had a good HRQoL (SF-36 ≥ 50). The dimension with the highest score was physical function (81.0), and vitality the lowest (46.5). Body fat was associated with more impairments in the SF-36 dimensions (p < 0.05). Factors associated with worse HRQOL are physical inactivity (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.10-6.62; p = 0.009), arterial hypertension (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.05-3.02; p = 0.032) and being female (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.45-5.27; p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Poor quality of life is associated with higher fat percentage, physical inactivity and hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes.