The Comparison of Quality of Life between Diabetes-Related Toe Amputees and Diabetes-Related Below Knee Amputees

Abstract

Background and objective : Thai diabetic foot ulcer patients, diabetes-related toe amputees and below knee amputees with prosthesis and  Diabetes neuropathy patients are now important complications in diabetic patients.  This study aim to compare the quality of life (QoL) in Thai diabetes-related toe amputees and diabetes-related below knee amputees with prosthesis as refer to the controls.

Moethods:  Descriptive cross-sectional study was performed atPM & R Foot clinic, Diabetic clinic, Orthotic&Prosthtic clinic at Srisaket hospital. Ninety diabetes-related foot problem cases (30 diabetes-related toe amputees, 30 diabetes-related below knee amputee with prosthesis and 30 diabetic peripheral neuropathy as control) were recruited from PM&R Foot clinic, Diabetic clinic, Orthotic& Prosthetic clinic during August-December 2014. Informations on QoL were collected using the SF-36 questionnaire (Thai-version)

Result: There was no significant difference among the patient’s demographic characteristics. Patients with diabetes-related toe amputees and diabetes-related below knee amputees with prosthesis had all dimensions scores lower than the control. When compared with diabetes-related toe amputees group, the diabetes-related below knee amputee with prosthesis group had statistically significant lower scores in the dimensions of Physical Functioning, Role-Physical and Role-Emotional

Conclusion: QoL was significantly impaired in Thai diabetes-related toe amputees and diabetes-related below knee amputees with prosthesis compare to the control. Furthermore, the dimensions of Physical Functioning, Role-Physical and Role-Emotional were more impaired in diabetes-related below knee amputee than diabetes-related toeamputee patients. This study demonstrated the importance of diabetic foot ulcer prevention and limb preservation.