Quality of Life of the Elderly Diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Health Center in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the quality of life in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (dm2) attending a Health Center in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Methods: cross–sectional study, a non-randomized sampling by convenience was used. 120 adults with dm2 who attended a metabolic control in a first care unit participated, socio-demographic and clinical variables were measured. The sf-36 questionnaire was used to know quality of life of the elderly; measures of central tendency, frequency and dispersion were used for data analysis. Results: 120 seniors participated, an average age of 68.6 years (±7. 1) was obtained, 51.7% were female (n=62), 51.7% were married (n=62), and 30% were overweight (n=36). Regarding quality of life, it was found that patients had physical function, physical role, general health and emotional role affectations. Conclusions: elderly with dm2 presented problems in four of the eight dimensions related to their quality of life; it is necessary to extend these observations to other first level clinics in order to large-scale sizing affectations of the elderly with dm2.