HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIABETIC FOOT ULCER PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most debilitating complications of diabetes mellitus, often leading to infection, amputation, and reduced quality of life. Evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in affected individuals is critical for optimizing patient care and targeted interventions. Objective: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with diabetic foot ulcers in the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of Study: 20-10-2024 to 20-04-2025. Methods: A total of 283 patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers were enrolled. HRQoL was assessed using the validated Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, which evaluates eight domains: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. Additional clinical data regarding infection status, presence of neuropathy, and history of amputation were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; results were reported as mean ± standard deviation. Results: The mean age of participants was 53.75 ± 15.13 years, with females comprising 61.5% of the study population. Clinical complications included infections in 57.6%, neuropathy in 54.1%, and amputations in 20.8% of patients. HRQoL assessment revealed significant impairments in physical function (52.96 ± 13.65), role-physical (34.10 ± 3.83), and bodily pain (37.53 ± 10.76). Additionally, mental health (33.85 ± 9.40) and social functioning (32.66 ± 4.91) scores were markedly reduced. Conclusion: Patients with diabetic foot ulcers experience significant impairments in both physical and psychosocial aspects of health-related quality of life. These findings highlight the need for multidisciplinary care approaches focusing on both clinical management and psychological support to improve overall patient outcomes.