Instrumentos de avaliação da qualidade de vida aplicados em adultos e idosos com diabetes: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is classified as a metabolic disease characterized by constant hyperglycemia, resulting from a deficiency in insulin production and/or the ineffective utilization of insulin. Quality of life (QoL) measurement instruments help to understand the severity of the disease's signs and symptoms in individuals and their main impacts on daily life. Objectives: To analyze the literature regarding the main QoL assessment instruments used to evaluate the quality of life of adults and older adults with diabetes. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review on the quality of life of adults and older adults living with Diabetes Mellitus. Observational studies from the last 5 years (2019 to 2024) in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with a population aged 18 and over, were selected. Publications were searched in the PUBMED, CAPES Journal Portal, Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD), and LILACS databases. Results: A total of 122 articles were included. There was a predominance of articles from the Asian continent, with 57 studies (45.60%). Among countries, Brazil had the highest number of publications (n=15). Regarding the QoL instruments applied, generic instruments such as EQ-5D, SF-36, and WHOQOL-BREF predominated. Among the specific QoL instruments, the DDS-17, DQOL, and PAID instruments were most frequently applied. The majority of articles (42.35%) sought to evaluate the general QoL of patients, while the others focused on specific themes. Regarding the location of QoL instrument application, 50% were conducted in a hospital setting, and 58% of the instruments were self-administered. Conclusion: The QoL instruments applied in the studies revealed similar results regarding the negative impact on the lives of patients affected by Diabetes Mellitus. Various characteristics such as advanced age, gender, presence of other comorbidities, treatment with insulin and/or oral medications, low income, and low education level were associated with reduced QoL.