Korean J Adult Nurs.  2021 Oct;33(5):498-508. 10.7475/kjan.2021.33.5.498.

Symptom Clusters and Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Hong SY
• Yoo YS

• KMID: 2521808
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2021.33.5.498

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the symptom clusters and quality of life among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to identify the relationship between quality of life and symptoms by cluster.
Methods
Data were collected through questionnaires and medical records of 123 patients with type 2 diabetes between December 27, 2018 and May 8, 2019. Type 2 diabetes-related symptoms were investigated using the Diabetes Symptom Self-Care Inventory, and quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L). The collected data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
Results
Tiredness was a most frequently reported symptom; however, symptom with weight loss was the most critical symptom reported. Five symptom clusters were identified, four of which correlated with quality of life. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that thirst-fatigue clusters affected quality of life (β=-.26, p=.019).
Conclusion
Active treatment and continuous lifestyle management are needed to maintain proper blood sugar levels to address type 2 diabetes mellitus-related symptoms within a thirst-fatigue cluster. Identifying the cause of fatigue and applying physical and psychosocial interventions is also required. Symptoms experienced by patients with type 2 diabetes are connected to clusters. Effective disease management and improvement in the quality of life can be achieved by identifying these symptoms through merging and managing the relevant symptoms simultaneously.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus; type 2; Syndrome; Quality of life