[Health status, quality of life, and use of healthcare resources by patients with diabetes mellitus in Spain].

INTRODUCTION: This study analyses the health status of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), their health related quality of life (HRQoL) and their use of healthcare resources in Spain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive analysis was conducted using the Spanish Health National Survey (ENSE, 2012), gathering data on those patients aged 15 and over diagnosed with DM. Their health status, their HRQoL, and their use of healthcare resources were systematically compared with those of patients diagnosed with other chronic conditions (OCC), as well as a population without DM (non-DM).

RESULTS: Out of 21,007 subjects that took part, 7.4% were diagnosed with DM and 59% with OCC conditions (mean age 65.6±14.2 years with DM, 51.3±18.1 years with OCC, and 45.7±18.2 years with non-DM). When compared to non-DM and OCC, DM was statistically significantly associated with higher frequencies of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, obesity, myocardial infraction, hospital admissions in the last year, and drug consumption, but with a lower number of visits to secondary healthcare. The mean quality adjusted life years (QALY) of patients with DM was 0.75 per year, significantly lower (P<.05) to that of individuals with OCC (0.89), and those without DM (0.92). The difference vs. non-DM remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, gender, and number of comorbidities (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, DM is associated with a high comorbidity, involves a greater loss in HRQoL than those diagnosed with other chronic conditions as a whole, and generates a significant burden on the healthcare system.