Health related quality of life in diabetics during pregnancy – A cross sectional study

Objective: To study the health related quality of life of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.

Method: A cross sectional study done using the SF-36 questionnaire on pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy (n=294) and compared with a control group (n=306) of pregnant women.

Results: A total of 600 participated with 294 patients with diabetes and gestational diabetes and 306 controls. The physical component score was lower in the GDM/DM group (t = 1.969) showed a significant difference (P=0.049, CI = 0.003-2.87) compared to the controls. The mental health score (t =0.041) did not show any significant difference (P=0.968, CI =-1.45-1.52) between the two groups. Sub group analysis of the 8 components showed a significant difference in the physical function component (P=0.032) and the bodily pain component (P=0.041) where the group with gestational diabetes/diabetes group showed a worse health related quality of life. There was no significant difference between physical role (P=0.125) and general health (P=0.212) the other 2 physical health components. All 4 mental health components of the two groups, Vitality (P=0.744), social function (P=0.235), emotional role (P=0.856) and mental health (P=0.464) did not show any significant difference.

Conclusion: The physical health of gestational diabetes mellitus/diabetes mellitus pregnant women was lower than that of healthy pregnant women while there is no difference in the mental health between them.