Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare psychological symptoms between diabetic patients, asthmatics and healthy individuals and also to determine the effect of these and other variables on quality of life among diabetes patients.

Method: For each respondent the questionnaire on socio-demographic and clinical variables was completed. Each respondent also completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 30), Zung’s Self Rating Depression Scale and, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI 1). All diabetic patients also completed the Diabetic Well-Being Questionnaire.

Results: Depression was more prevalent among diabetic patients (20%) compared to asthmatics (12%) and healthy individuals (4%), while anxiety was more prevalent among asthmatics (34%) compared to diabetics (20%) and healthy individuals (8%). Predictors of depression include early age of onset of diabetes, poor glycaemic control, and the presence of co morbid medical conditions. Factors that correlated significantly with diabetic general well-being include depression, anxiety, duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose level and presence of co morbid medical conditions. Depression and the presence of co morbid medical conditions significantly predicted a low quality of life.

Conclusion: Psychological factors have significant effects on the diabetic patients’ quality of life.