Del Core MA, Ahn J, Wukich DK, Liu GT, Lalli T, VanPelt MD, Raspovic KM, et al.
The international journal of lower extremity wounds. Date of publication 2018 Jun 1;volume 17(2):87-93.
1. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2018 Jun;17(2):87-93. doi: 10.1177/1534734618774664.
Epub 2018 Jun 21.
Gender Differences on SF-36 Patient-Reported Outcomes of Diabetic Foot Disease.
Del Core MA(1), Ahn J(1), Wukich DK(1), Liu GT(1), Lalli T(1), VanPelt MD(1),
Raspovic KM(1).
Author information:
(1)1 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender on
health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using a generic (Short Form-36 [SF-36])
and region-specific (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM]) health measurement
tool among a matched cohort of male and female patients with diabetes-related
foot complications. The HRQOL of 240 patients with diabetic foot disease was
measured using the SF-36 and the FAAM surveys. A total of 120 male patients were
matched with 120 female patients with the same primary diagnosis, age, type, and
duration of diabetes and insulin use. The SF-36 physical component summary (PCS)
and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated using orthogonal and
oblique rotation methods. The median age of the respondents was 54 years
(interquartile range = 46-61). No differences in patient characteristics were
found between genders. Among the SF-36 subscales, women reported significantly
worse physical function ( P = .014) and bodily pain ( P = .021) scores with a
trending decrease in general health score ( P = .067). Subsequently, women had
worse orthogonal ( P = .009) and oblique PCS scores ( P = .036) than men.
However, orthogonal ( P = .427) or oblique ( P = .140) MCS scores did not differ
between groups. No significant differences in FAAM scores with respect to gender
were appreciated. Our findings suggest that in patients with diabetic foot
disease, women tend to report lower physical HRQOL compared with men. In efforts
to increase compliance, providers should recognize the impact of gender on
patients' perceptions of foot-related complications of diabetes. This knowledge
may improve outcomes by adapting more individualized and gender-specific
approaches to patients.
DOI: 10.1177/1534734618774664
PMID: 29929411
