QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT AMONG INDIAN DIABETICS ENGAGING AN AYUR-PHARMACO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DESIGN

Diabetes related Quality of Life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction data is very scarce from India. The ayurpharmacoepidemiology study design was assumed to explore the definite situation of perceived QoL among Indian diabetics and to understand the possibilities of interventions provided in Ayurveda hospitals against diabetes by assessing treatment satisfaction among diabetics. Cross-sectional study involving 203 type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥ 25 years were assessed by self-administered Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19) and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQc). Participants represented both male (68%) and female (32%) with mean age 55.31 (± 10.505 SD) years having age range of 56 years. Family history of diabetes revealed 20.68% paternal and 18.72% maternal diabetes. Mean duration of diabetes was 5.9384 (± 4.0148 SD) years with range of 6 months to 23.5 years. The mean ADDQoL [Average Weighted Impact (AWI)] score of the total participants were (-) 2.7753 where 98.03% participants perceived diabetes to impact negatively on their QoL. Mean DTSQ score was 28.0697. Association between ADDQoL (AWI) score and duration of diabetes showed no significant relationship (p=0.208) but strong evidence of diabetes complications was found significantly (p=0.017) related to ADDQoL (AWI) score. Negatively impact of Diabetes on QoL among Indians highlight lack of structured education, information programs and integrated diabetes health care model. The study widens the scope for future research opportunities involving ayurpharmacoepidemiological approach for monitoring psychosocial wellbeing and QoL with integrated therapeutic advances involving Ayurveda.