Quality of life and depression among diabetic patients attending the lifestyle clinic of a teaching hospital, West Bengal

Context: The coexistence of diabetes and depression has resulted in poor quality of life. Reported literature suggested the need for research for assessing the correlates of both quality of life along with depression in diabetic persons. Aims: To assess the quality of life (QOL), the prevalence of depression and associated factors in diabetic patients attending the lifestyle clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility in Eastern India. Settings and Design: This hospital-based descriptive, cross-sectional research recruited 219 patients with diabetes to assess the QOL and depression in the lifestyle clinic of a tertiary healthcare facility. Methods and Materials: The quality of life was assessed with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) QOL BREF instrument. Depression was determined by a standardized Patient Health Questionnaire - 9(PHQ-9). The sociodemographic and diabetes-related information were collected by a semistructured questionnaire. Clinical and anthropometric examinations were conducted. Statistical Analysis Used: All the available data were initially coded and then analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 licensed software. Results: The participants had a median age of 54 years. Illiteracy was significantly more among females. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity. Gender-wise difference in mean of weight, height, hip circumference, and QOL score in the psychosocial domain was significant. The mean QOL score was least in the social domain and highest in the environmental domain. Literate patients had a statistically significantly better QOL. Depression was observed significantly more in females, illiterates, and unemployed respondents. Conclusions: Diabetic women with lesser literacy have an increased risk of poor QOL. Women, illiterates, and the unemployed suffered more from depression. Therefore, a target-specific, routine, and well-planned clinic approach is needed to improve the QOL and mental health of respondents.