Quality of life among medical students with a history of chronic disease. Findings from a two-year follow-up study

Introduction:
Young individuals, including students, are increasingly affected by chronic diseases, which can lead to a decline in quality of life (QoL), academic challenges, and greater dependence on support systems. Medical students, in particular, face higher risks of emotional exhaustion, stress, and mental health deterioration due to the demands of their studies. This study aims to assess the QoL among medi­cal students, examine its association with the occurrence of diagnosed chronic diseases, and analyze changes over a two-year follow-up period.

Material and methods:
The data collected from the POLLEK cohort study among the medical students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice were analyzed. The QoL was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Students were assessed at two time points: during their first year of studies (the academic year 2021/2022, T1, N = 425), and again in their second year (the academic year 2022/2023, T2, N = 335).

Results:
Our study observed a modest increase in the occurrence of chronic diseases among the cohort, rising from 23.7% (n = 95) at T1 to 28.3 (n = 101) at T2. Students with chronic diseases reported signifi­cantly lower QoL scores in overall, somatic, and psychological domains at T1. They continued to show lower scores in overall and environmental domains at T2. Additionally, at T2, higher body mass index was significantly associated with reduced QoL, particularly in the somatic and psychological domains.

Conclusions:
The study revealed a slight increase in chronic disease prevalence among medical students over two years, along with a decline in their QoL, particularly in somatic, psychological, and overall well-being. These findings highlight the need for programs promoting healthy lifestyles, especially targeting the prevention of overweight and obesity, while addressing the unique needs of students with chronic diseases.