PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FUNCTIONING OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETIC POLYNEUROPATHY ON THE BACKGROUND OF MULTIMORBIDITY
Authors: Svyrydova N.K. , Chupryna G.M. , Dubуnetska V.M. , Tyzhuk Z.L. 
Published: July 2021

The article analyzes the physical and psychological components of the quality of life (QOL) in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DP) on the background of type I and II diabetes mellitus (DM) with comorbidity. Has been demonstrated the prevalence of more frequent multimorbidity in this nosology and its effect on patients’ QOL.
QOL is recognized as an integral part of a comprehensive analysis of new methods of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, quality of treatment and medical assistance [2].
With the highest frequency in DM detect sensory or sensorimotor forms of distal symmetrical DP. However, there are motor symptoms in DM, including cranial neuropathy and Bruns-Garland syndrome (diabetic amyotrophy) [3], which interfere with the satisfactory functioning of patients.
The purpose of our work was to assess the extent of physical and mental functioning of people with DP on the background of multimorbidity.
Materials and methods. We examined 92 patients with DP on the background of type I and II DM, aged from 19 to 69 years, which were divided into 2 groups: from DP on the background of type 1 DM (group I) and type II (group II). We distinguished such subgroups: DP on the background of type I DM and concomitant cardiovascular pathology (CVP) (group A), DP on the background of type II DM and concomitant CVP (group B), DP on the background of type I DM and gastroenterological pathology (GEP) (group C), DP on the background of type II DM and GEP (group D), DP on the background of type I DM and pathology of the thyroid gland (thyroid) (group E), DP on the background of type II DM and thyroid pathology (group F). Patients underwent clinical and neurological examination, laboratory tests and ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity and thyroid gland, electromyography (EMG). Static calculation was done in MS Excel 2003.
Results and discussion. In groups A and B with the highest frequency among CVP was arterial hypertension - 91% vs 97% and coronary heart disease - 27% vs 41%. In group C - chronic hepatitis (40%), chronic cholecystitis (40%), chronic pancreatitis (40%), chronic gastroduodenitis (40%). In people of group D, gallstone disease was diagnosed more often than in other pathologies (43%). The leading place in group E was occupied by autoimmune thyroiditis (29%), idiopathic hypothyroidism (29%), thyrotoxicosis (29%), in group F - nodular goiter (57%). The longest duration of DM was observed in group A - 24.54 ± 2.46 years, the smallest in group D - 7.14 ± 1.01 years. Diabetic foot syndrome was diagnosed in patients of groups A and B in 14%, group C - in 2%. In patients of group I, the indicators of QOL were higher than in group II. The highest indicators were of groups I and II in the domains social (SF) and physical functioning (PF) - 66.75 ± 2.41; 65.5 ± 3.23 and 63.39 ± 3.54; 61.42 ± 3.88. In group A, the level of QOL was slightly higher than in group B, in particular in the domains of mental health (MH) - 53.09 ± 3.12, bodily pain (BP) - 50.90 ± 4.05. In addition, the manifestations of DP in such group of individuals (group A) were manifested by the absence or mild pain, which causes in people of this group higher rate of QOL. QOL in patients of group C was higher than in group D, in particular, the indicators of physical functioning (PF) - 68.75 ± 5.88, social functioning (SF) - 65.62 ± 5.35, role emotional (RE) - 58.33 ± 18.75, mental health (MH) - 54 ± 5.36. In group D, the data were high in the domains of social functioning (SF) 60.71 ± 16.0 and physical functioning (PF) 57.14 ± 8.37. In the examined patients of group F the level of QOL was higher than in group E, it was, in the domains of physical functioning (PF) - 76.42 ± 7.99, bodily pain (BP) - 61.28 ± 11.18, general health (GH) - 60.85 ± 7.33. Physical health (PH) was low in all groups, but slightly higher in group F (47.90 ± 3.45). The mental health (MH) was low in all groups of patients, slightly higher in group C (47.89 ± 3.59).
Conclusions. The level of QOL in persons with DP on the background of type I and II DM with multimorbidity was generally not high. Patients in group D showed the lowest levels of QOL, they also had a level of glycated hemoglobin much higher than in other groups. In group F, the data of QOL were higher, because people with DP on the background of type I DM (group E) had a higher frequency of concomitant thyroid damage, the manifestations of which significantly complicate the course of the underlying disease and reduce levels of functioning. Often manifestations of diabetic foot occur in the onset of DP, when the fibers responsible for sensitivity were damaged, which causes the appearance of the neuropathic component of pain, so in persons of group B the lowest among all groups was the level of QOL in the domain of pain intensity. In addition, it was convenient to monitor the results of treatment by conducting a QOL survey several times a year. Careful analysis of QOL in all areas of functioning in patients with DP allowed detecting early mental disorders and timely start treatment, including psychotherapy sessions.
Keywords: quality of life, diabetic polyneuropathy, comorbidity, diabetic foot.