Factors Predicting Quality Of Life Among Diabetic Patients With Early Stage Of Chronic Kidney Disease

A clear understanding of factors affecting patients' perception of the quality of life (QoL) would be useful for improving continuous care in diabetic patients with the early stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The early stage of CKD is defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of above 30 mL/min per 1.73 m(2), that can return to a normal stage. Thus, this research aims to assess and determine the factors predictive of the QoL among diabetic patients with the early stage of CKD. A cross-sectional survey using a stratified random sampling method was administered between March and May 2018. The participants were 335 diabetic patients with the early stage of CKD selected from 24 sub-district health promoting hospitals in Sakon Nakhon province. The data collected, using questionnaires, descriptive statistics, and a stepwise multiple regression analysis for the factors related to and predictive of the QoL, were analyzed. The results revealed that: the factors that could predict the QoL consisted of health condition satisfaction, self-care behavior, age, personal monthly income, CKD classification, and marital status. The best predictors for QoL in diabetic patients with the early stage of CKD were health condition satisfaction (beta = 0.305, p<0.001), followed by self-care behavior (beta = 0.280, p<0.001). Based on the findings of this study, health care providers should pay more attention to patients with low levels of health condition satisfaction and self-care behavior. All these features negatively affect the QOL. To improve a patient's QoL, the focus should be on different variables.