Type of diabetes mellitus and health-related quality of life in Nigeria: Ethnic and sex differences

Abstract

This study examined quality of life (QoL) differences among diabetic patients in Nigeria by ethnicity, sex, and type of diabetes. Out-patients (n = 486) with diabetes mellitus (Type I = 16%; female = 71%; Igbo = 25% Hausa = 22%, Yoruba = 32%, other = 21%; mean age = 43.3 years, SD = 11.5 years) completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnaire. A 4x2x2 (Ethnicity x Sex x Diabetes Type) analysis of variance showed no significant interactions but all main effects were significant. By sex, males had higher QoL scores compared to females with both Type II and Type I diabetes. The analysis by ethnicity showed that the Yoruba ethnic group reported the highest QoL followed by the Igbo and Hausa groups (which do not differ significantly from each other), with lowest QoL scores for other ethnic groups. Interventions for diabetes control should consider ethnic, sex, and diabetes type differences to optimise the QoL outcomes.