Are health-related quality-of-life and self-rated health associated with mortality? Insights from Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD)

Prim Care Diabetes. 2009 Feb;3(1):37-42. doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2009.01.001. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Abstract

Aims: To determine if health-related quality-of-life and self-rated health are associated with mortality in persons with diabetes.

Methods: Survey and medical record data were obtained from 7892 patients with diabetes in Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD), a multicenter prospective observational study of diabetes care in managed care. Vital status at follow-up was determined from the National Death Index. Multivariable proportional hazard models were used to determine if a generic measure of health-related quality-of-life (EQ-5D) and self-rated health measured at baseline were associated with 4-year all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality.

Results: At baseline, the mean EQ-5D score for decedents was 0.73 (S.D.=0.20) and for survivors was 0.81 (S.D.=0.18) (p<0.0001). Fifty-five percent of decedents and 36% of survivors (p<0.0001) rated their health as fair or poor. Lower EQ-5D scores and fair or poor self-rated health were associated with higher rates of mortality after adjusting for the demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical risk factors for mortality.

Conclusions: Health-related quality-of-life and self-rated health predict mortality in persons with diabetes. Health-related quality-of-life and self-rated health may provide additional information on patient risk independent of demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical risk factors for mortality.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / psychology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / mortality*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / psychology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept*
  • Time Factors
  • United States