Health-related quality of life in a binational population with diabetes at the Texas-Mexico border La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en una población diabética binacional de la frontera Texas-México

• Main Authors: Nelda Mier, Anabel Bocanegra-Alonso, Dongling Zhan, Miguel A. Zuniga, Rosa I. Acosta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Pan American Health Organization 2008
• Subjects: Calidad de vida; diabetes mellitus tipo 2; factores de riesgo; salud fronteriza; americanos mexicanos; Texas; México; Estados Unidos; Quality of life; diabetes mellitus; type 2; risk factors; border health; Mexican Americans; Mexico; United States; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic; Grande Valley
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/bffe8fc9bbad43e0a8308a0755d7550d

OBJECTIVES: To examine physical and mental health domains of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a binational adult population with type 2 diabetes at the Texas-Mexico border, and to explore individual and social correlates to physical and mental health status. METHODS: Adults 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes residing in the South Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley and in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, were recruited using a convenience sampling technique and interviewed face-to-face with a structured survey. HRQL was measured using physical and mental health summary components of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form. HRQL correlates included demographic characteristics, health factors, access to healthcare, and family support. Samples characteristics were compared using the Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Associations between dependent and independent variables were examined using unadjusted and adjusted (multiple variable) logistic regression models. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between Valley and Reynosa respondents in physical or mental health status scores. Valley participants with lower socioeconomic status and those perceiving their supportive relative’s level of diabetes-related knowledge as "low" were more likely to report worse physical health than those lacking those characteristics. In the Reynosa group, lower physical health status was associated with duration of diabetes and insulin use. Both sample populations with clinical depressive symptoms were more likely to have worse physical and mental health than those without such symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: HRQL is an important outcome in monitoring health status. Understanding the levels and influences of HRQL in U.S.-Mexico border residents with diabetes may help improve diabetes management programs. OBJETIVOS: Analizar los dominios de salud física y mental de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en una población binacional de adultos con diabetes tipo 2 en la frontera Texas-México y explorar los factores ...