Comparative analysis of the effect of diabetes and undergone heart attack on the patients’ quality of life

Aim. The main aim of this paper was evaluating the effect of diabetes and undergone heart attack on the respondents’ quality of life and
analyzing the determinants.

Material and methods. Ninety patients participated in the study. Respondents (30 people suffering from diabetes, 30 patients with undergone
heart attack and 30 patients suffering from diabetes and with undergone heart attack) were chosen from people hospitalized in three
internal diseases wards. All the participants were interviewed in order to attain information relating to occurrence of chronic diseases, taking
medications and smoking tobacco before hospitalizing . In the study evaluated quality of life during hospitalization using European Quality of Life Scale questionnaire. At the same time there were used questionnaires evaluating functional ability (scales: Activities of Daily Living
and IADL, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) and physical activity (Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire and Stanford Usual
Activity Questionnaire) before hospitalization. There was performed the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (Questionnaire) functionality of basic
psychical process (Mini-Mental State Examination) and frame of mind (Geriatric Depression Scale).

Results. Respondents with heart circulation failure had more often stated worse subjective evaluation of quality of life. Regard to the age
and affiliation to the group, patients with lower ability to eat, move, dress or in worse nutritional state were at the same time indicating worse
quality of life. Patients hospitalized only because of diabetes in better nutritional state and mentally efficient indicated higher level of
functional activity.

Conclusions. Occurrence of diabetes and/or undergone heart attack indicated in similar prepare of quality of life determines. Patients
suffering from diabetes and/or with undergone heart attack indicated similar level of quality of life. Occurrence of heart circulation failure
in the group of patients suffering from diabetes and/or with undergone heart attack worsens their quality of life. Functional state of the
twenty-four hours before hospitalization is more important determinant of quality of life than age or type of illness being the cause of
hospitalization.