OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of depressive symptoms and neuropathic pain in the quality of life (QL) of diabetic patients with diabetic distal polyneuropathy (DDP). METHODS: Two hundred and four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were evaluated. The diagnosis of DDP was achieved using the Neuropathy Disability Score and Neuropathy Symptom Score questionnaires. The severity of neuropathic pain was assessed by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); the severity of depression, by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and QL was assessed by means of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-bref (WHOQOLbref). RESULTS: Patients with DDP presented significant higher scores in BDI (12.6 ± 7.2 versus 9.9 ± 7.3; p = 0.018) and in VAS (5.0 ± 2.4 versus 2.6 ± 2.9; p < 0.001). They also presented significant lower scores in the physical (52.8 ± 15.5 versus 59.2 ± 17.0; p = 0.027) and environmental domains (56.6 ± 12.3 versus 59.6 ± 13.6; p = 0,045). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with DDP presented a worse QL in the physical and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-bref, probably due to more depressive symptoms and the severity of pain.
Quality of life; depression; diabetic neuropathy; neuropathic pain
