doi: 10.56294/shp202236

 

ORIGINAL

 

Health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of North Lima

 

Calidad de vida en relación a la salud en personas con enfermedades crónicas que residen en una zona vulnerable de Lima Norte

 

Milusca Jaqueline Velarde-Tejada1  , David Fidel Vela-Quico2 , Fernando Ubaldo Enciso-Miranda2 , Elizabeth del Carmen Ormaza Esmeraldas3  *, Fidel Aguilar-Medrano4

 

1Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Arequipa, Perú.

2Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Perú.

3Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Ecuador.

4Hospital Municipal de Morón “Ostaciana B. de Lavignolle”, Departamento Medicina Interna, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

Cite as: Velarde-Tejada MJ, Vela-Quico DF, Enciso-Miranda FU, Ormaza Esmeraldas E del C, Aguilar-Medrano F. Health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of North Lima. South Health and Policy. 2022; 1:36. https://doi.org/10.56294/shp202236

 

Submitted: 27-04-2022                   Revised: 12-09-2022                   Accepted: 22-11-2022                 Published: 23-11-2022

 

Editor: Dr. Telmo Raúl Aveiro-Róbalo  

 

Corresponding author: Elizabeth del Carmen Ormaza Esmeraldas *

 

ABSTRACT

 

Quality of life is very important in relation to health, as it addresses functions that enable people to maintain a healthy life. Therefore, the research objective is to determine the quality of life in relation to health in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima. This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and non-experimental study. A total population of 152 people with chronic diseases responded to a questionnaire on sociodemographic aspects and a questionnaire on quality of life in relation to health. The results show that 18 (n=11,8 %) have a low quality of life, 26 (n=17,1 %) have an average quality of life, 58 (n=38,2 %) have a high quality of life, and 50 (n=32,9 %) have a very high quality of life. It was concluded that strategies to increase promotion and prevention of non-communicable diseases should be taken into account.

 

Keywords: Quality of Life; Noncommunicable Diseases; Vulnerable Populations; Pandemic; Coronavirus.

 

RESUMEN

 

La calidad de vida es muy importante en relación con la salud, dado que aborda funciones que permite mantener una vida saludable de las personas, por lo que el objetivo de investigación es determinar la calidad de vida en relación con la salud en personas con enfermedades crónicas que residen en una zona vulnerable de Lima Norte. Es un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo-transversal y no experimental. Con una población total de 152 personas con enfermedades crónicas, que respondieron un cuestionario de aspectos sociodemográficos y el cuestionario de calidad de vida en relación con la salud. En los resultados se puede observar que, 18(n=11,8 %) tienen una calidad de vida baja, 26(n=17,1 %) calidad de vida promedio, 58(n=38,2 %) calidad de vida alta y 50(n=32,9 %) una calidad de vida muy alta. Se concluye que, se debe teneren cuenta estrategias que incrementen la promoción y prevencion sobre las enfermedades no transmisibles.

 

Palabras clave: Calidad de Vida; Enfermedades no Transmisibles; Poblaciones Vulnerables; Pandemia; Coronavirus.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Globally, chronic diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), currently represent one of the greatest challenges facing health systems worldwide.(1,2)

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that every year more than 15,000,000 people between the ages of 30 and 69 die from NCDs in developing countries. Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 17,9 million deaths per year, followed by cancer with 9,3 million, 4,1 million from respiratory diseases, and 1,5 million from diabetes mellitus.(3)

However, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), worldwide more than 15 million people die from NCDs between the ages of 30 and 69, and 85 % of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. 85 % of them occur in low- and middle-income countries, and that in the Americas, 2,2 million people die from NCDs before reaching the age of 70.(4)

Without a doubt, the quality of life (QOL) of people with chronic and acute diseases is already compromised,(5,6) and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic further complicates their situation and has a deplorable impact on the lives of this population.(7,8)

NCDs such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases, among others, continue to be a problem in public and community health,(9,10) given that in order to implement promotion and prevention strategies, the primary health care system must be strengthened.(11,12)

In a study conducted in Spain with 262 participants diagnosed with high blood pressure, the results showed that 58 % of participants had a high quality of life and 42 % had a medium to low quality of life. They concluded that the participants’ quality of life was high, given that they took good care of themselves and underwent the necessary tests for the early detection of complications from high blood pressure.(13)

In a study conducted in Mexico with 1,394 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the results showed that 49,5 % of participants had a poor quality of life and 50,5 % had a good quality of life. They concluded that factors such as sociodemographic aspects, educational level, and low income make people with diabetes mellitus more likely to have a low quality of life.(14)

In a study conducted in Nepal with 671 older adults, the results showed that 82,4 % of participants had an average quality of life. The conclusion was that, as participants were vulnerable to all diseases, their quality of life tended to decline if they did not take proper care of themselves.(15)

Therefore, the research objective is to determine the quality of life in relation to health in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima.

 

METHOD

Research type and design

This research is quantitative in nature and uses a descriptive, cross-sectional, non-experimental methodology.(16)

 

Population

The population consists of a total of 152 people residing in a vulnerable area of northern Lima.

 

Inclusion Criteria

·      Participants over 18 years of age

·      Participants who have lived in the Puente Piedra District for more than 3 years

·      Participants who agree to participate voluntarily in the study.

 

Technique and Instrument

The data collection technique was a survey, which was divided into sociodemographic aspects and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36) instrument.

The SF-36 is an instrument that assesses a person’s well-being in relation to their current condition. It is an instrument with 36 items divided into nine dimensions (physical functioning, role in physical functioning, pain, general health, energy/fatigue, social functioning, emotional functioning, emotional well-being, and health change), which are rated on a Likert scale where: “0 = very low,” “1 = low,” “2 = average,” “3 = high,” and “4 = very high.”The total score ranges from 0 to 100 points, with a higher score indicating a better quality of life for participants.(17,18)

The reliability of the instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, obtaining a score of 0,842 (α > 0,6) for the 36 items of the instrument, which allows us to determine that the instrument is reliable.

 

Place and Application of the Instrument

First, prior arrangements were made with each person diagnosed with an ENT, and they were provided with the necessary information about the study so that they had adequate knowledge about the research.

 

RESULTS

 

Figure 1. Health-related quality of life in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 1 shows that, in terms of health-related quality of life, 11,8 % of participants have a low quality of life, 17,1 % have an average quality of life, 38,2 % have a high quality of life, and 32,9 % have a very high quality of life.

 

Figure 2. Health-related quality of life in terms of physical functioning in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 2 shows that, in terms of physical functioning, 52,6 % of participants have a very high health-related quality of life, 16,4 % have a high quality of life, 21,1 % have an average quality of life, and 9,9 % have a low quality of life.

 

Figure 3. Health-related quality of life in terms of physical functioning in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 3 shows that, in terms of physical functioning, 71,7 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 8,6 % have a high quality of life, and 19,7 % have a very low quality of life.

 

Figure 4. Quality of life in relation to health in terms of pain in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 4 shows that, with regard to the pain dimension, 69,1 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 7,9 % have a high quality of life, 7,2 % have an average quality of life, and 15,8 % have a very low quality of life.

 

Figure 5. Health-related quality of life in terms of general health in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 6. Quality of life in relation to health in the energy/fatigue dimension among people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 5 shows that, in terms of general health, 17,8 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 4,6 % have a high quality of life, 59,2 % have an average quality of life, 11,2 % have a low quality of life, and 7,2 % have a very low quality of life.

Figure 6 shows that, in terms of energy/fatigue, 8,6 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 40,8 % have a high quality of life, 30,9 % have an average quality of life, 15,1 % have a low quality of life, and 4,6 % have a very low quality of life.

 

Figure 7. Quality of life in relation to health in its social function dimension in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 7 shows that, in terms of social function, 30,9 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 34,2 % have a high quality of life, 19,7 % have an average quality of life, 14,5 % have a low quality of life, and 0,7 % have a very low quality of life.

 

Figure 8. Quality of life in relation to health in its emotional function dimension in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 8 shows that, in terms of emotional function, 56,6 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 22,4 % have a high quality of life, 1,3 % have a low quality of life, and 19,7 % have a very low quality of life.

 

Figure 9. Quality of life in relation to health in terms of emotional well-being in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 9 shows that, with regard to emotional well-being, 7,9 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 59,9 % have a high quality of life, 20,4 % have an average quality of life, and 11,8 % have a low quality of life.

 

Figure 10. Quality of life in relation to health in terms of health change in people with chronic diseases living in a vulnerable area of northern Lima

 

Figure 10 shows that, in terms of health change, 17,8 % of participants have a very high quality of life in relation to health, 58,6 % have a high quality of life, 15,8 % have an average quality of life, and 7,9 % have a very low quality of life.

 

DISCUSSION

This research is based on a public and community health perspective in the study population, where the aim is to develop strategies to prevent the development of comorbidities resulting from their disease.

In terms of health-related quality of life, it is very high, which we can interpret as meaning that, for the most part, people with chronic diseases appear to be healthy, but they must take into account the care they need for their disease, given that the presence of complications, not having an adequate lifestyle, not visiting the doctor, and not adhering properly to treatment, the presence of risks can significantly affect the person, since their living conditions and health will depend on how their quality of life is compromised.

Regarding the results of the dimensions of quality of life in relation to health, we observe that high and very high scores predominate. This is because the participants practice self-care in accordance with the advice given to them by health professionals when they go for check-ups, given that their quality of life is good, factors such as adequate nutrition in accordance with their condition, the elimination or reduction of harmful habits, commitment to treatment, and awareness of their disease allow their quality of life to improve and, in turn, improve their quality of life and lifestyle in the long term, given that their disease will accompany them for the rest of their lives. Social and family support also play an important role in improving the quality of life of the sick person, as this allows them to better accept the development of healthy habits. In addition, when people with chronic diseases accept their condition, their mental health improves, allowing them to engage in different activities for their well-being, such as reducing stress, exercising, eating healthily, sleeping adequately, staying hydrated, and avoiding harmful habits such as alcohol and tobacco. However, in a person who does not accept their illness, this has a negative impact on them (being single, not having family and social support, and the presence of symptoms that compromise their health), drastically reducing their quality of life.

 

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that strategies to increase promotion and prevention of noncommunicable diseases should be taken into account.

It is concluded that counseling on non-communicable diseases and how to prevent them should be provided.

It is concluded that programs or campaigns based on comprehensive health care for people with non-communicable diseases should be implemented to improve their quality of life and lifestyle.

 

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FUNDING

None.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

 

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: Milusca Jaqueline Velarde-Tejada, David Fidel Vela-Quico, Fernando Ubaldo Enciso-Miranda, Elizabeth del Carmen Ormaza Esmeraldas, Fidel Aguilar-Medrano.

Writing – original draft: Milusca Jaqueline Velarde-Tejada, David Fidel Vela-Quico, Fernando Ubaldo Enciso-Miranda, Elizabeth del Carmen Ormaza Esmeraldas, Fidel Aguilar-Medrano.

Writing – review and editing: Milusca Jaqueline Velarde-Tejada, David Fidel Vela-Quico, Fernando Ubaldo Enciso-Miranda, Elizabeth del Carmen Ormaza Esmeraldas, Fidel Aguilar-Medrano.