OBJECTIVE— In the context of the QuED (Quality of Care and Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes) project, we evaluated the longitudinal changes over 3 years in quality of life (QoL) in patients with type 2 diabetes according to the presence or the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Patients were requested to fill in a questionnaire investigating the presence of ED and QoL (SF-36 Health Survey, depression symptoms [Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression], and quality of sexual life) every 6 months for 3 years. The analyses were based on multilevel models, adjusted for patient clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS— The study involved 1,456 patients, of whom 34% reported frequent erectile problems at baseline; 192 developed ED during the follow-up. No changes in QoL measures were detected in patients without ED; in those with ED at baseline, a worsening in all SF-36 scales was observed, reaching statistical significance for physical functioning (P * 0.03). Among patients who developed ED during the study, a deterioration in all SF-36 dimensions and a worsening in depressive symptoms preceded the development of ED. The onset of ED was associated with a further marked worsening in physical functioning (P*0.0008), general health perception (P * 0.02), and social functioning (P * 0.04) on SF-36 subscales, as well as in the summary physical and mental components scores (P * 0.04 and P * 0.07, respectively). The development of ED was also associated with a highly significant increase in depressive symptoms (P * 0.001) and a marked decrease in quality of sexual life (P * 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS— This longitudinal study documents for the first time the impact of ED onset on several aspects of QoL in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study also shows that QoL tended to further decrease during 3 years in patients with ED at baseline but not in those without this condition.
Longitudinal assessment of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and self-reported erectile dysfunction
GUARINO, Giuseppina
2005
Abstract
OBJECTIVE— In the context of the QuED (Quality of Care and Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes) project, we evaluated the longitudinal changes over 3 years in quality of life (QoL) in patients with type 2 diabetes according to the presence or the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Patients were requested to fill in a questionnaire investigating the presence of ED and QoL (SF-36 Health Survey, depression symptoms [Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression], and quality of sexual life) every 6 months for 3 years. The analyses were based on multilevel models, adjusted for patient clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS— The study involved 1,456 patients, of whom 34% reported frequent erectile problems at baseline; 192 developed ED during the follow-up. No changes in QoL measures were detected in patients without ED; in those with ED at baseline, a worsening in all SF-36 scales was observed, reaching statistical significance for physical functioning (P * 0.03). Among patients who developed ED during the study, a deterioration in all SF-36 dimensions and a worsening in depressive symptoms preceded the development of ED. The onset of ED was associated with a further marked worsening in physical functioning (P*0.0008), general health perception (P * 0.02), and social functioning (P * 0.04) on SF-36 subscales, as well as in the summary physical and mental components scores (P * 0.04 and P * 0.07, respectively). The development of ED was also associated with a highly significant increase in depressive symptoms (P * 0.001) and a marked decrease in quality of sexual life (P * 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS— This longitudinal study documents for the first time the impact of ED onset on several aspects of QoL in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study also shows that QoL tended to further decrease during 3 years in patients with ED at baseline but not in those without this condition.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
