Health-related Quality of Life and its Predicators among Patients Diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Health Facility Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract Background: Nigeria has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa, posing significant challenges for those affected. This study aimed to assess the quality of life of diabetes patients in a tertiary health facility in Benin City, Edo State. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilized among 200 in- and outpatients attending the health facility. The study adapted the WHOQOL-BREF standardized questionnaire for data collection. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive while the hypothesis was done using multinomial regression at a 0.05% significant level. Results: About 26 (13.0%) of the respondents have poor quality of life, 97 (48.5%) have fair quality of life, and 77 (38.5%) of the respondents’ quality of life was good. Patients reported poorer quality of life in the physical (mean: 2.77 ± 0.94) and environmental domains (2.79 ± 0.90), while their social (3.45 ± 0.84) and psychological domains (3.0 ± 0.91) were better. Significant predictors of health-related quality of life included sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.034, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.177, 3.573], age [OR = 3.111, 95% CI = 1.105–4.482], level of income [OR = 2.159, 95% CI = 1.146–3.172], co-morbidities [OR = 3.227, 95% CI = 1.241–3.515], nutritional status [OR = 2.360, 95% = CI = 1.709–2.393], and educational qualification [OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.225–3.809]. Conclusion: This study revealed that a large proportion of diabetic patients in Benin City had poor quality of life, particularly in the physical and environmental domains. Factors such as sex, age, co-morbidities, income, and nutrition played significant roles. Policy should integrate quality-of-life assessments into diabetes care guidelines, while clinicians should adopt multidisciplinary, patient-centered strategies focusing on physical, nutritional, and co-morbidity management.