Association Between Physical Activity And Quality Of Life In Persons With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross Sectional Study

Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem globally, and particularly in Ghana. Regular physical activity is important in the management of type 2 diabetes and in improving quality of life of persons with type 2 diabetes. However, population-based studies in Ghana on physical activity and its relation to quality of life in persons with type 2 diabetes are limited. Understanding the association between physical activity and quality of life is relevant to help optimise health promoting behaviour in this population. PURPOSE: To explore how physical activity relate to quality of life in persons with type 2 diabetes from a major tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: 121 persons with type 2 diabetes (age, 30 - 60 years) filled in questionnaires on their physical activity (short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ-SF) and quality of life (short version of Diabetes 39, D-39). The IPAQ-SF assessed time spent in sitting, walking, moderate-intensity activities and vigorous-intensity activities. The D-39 assessed diabetes control, anxiety and worry, social burden, sexual functioning, energy and mobility and overall quality of life. The relationships between the variables were examined using spearman correlation. RESULTS: Time spent in sitting, walking, moderate-intensity activities, vigorous-intensity activities and quality of life were 1677.7 ± 401.5 min, 464.1 ± 296.0MET-min, 241.2 ± 65.8MET-min, 1956.5 ± 1251.0MET-min and 194.3 ± 42.9 respectively. Walking was related to lower difficulty in energy and mobility (r = -.48, p < 0.01), sexual functioning (r = -0.41, p < 0.01), social burden (r = -0.44, p < 0.01) and diabetes control (r = -0.56, p < 0.01) . Vigorous-intensity activities was related to lower anxiety and worry (r = -0.20, p < 0.05). No associations were found between sitting and all quality of life domains ( r ≤ 0.16, p > 0.05), and between moderate activities and all quality of life domains (r ≤ 0.28, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggests that persons with type 2 diabetes who experience lower energy and mobility, sexual functioning and diabetes control, and heightened social burden, anxiety and worry may benefit from guidance on optimal physical activity behaviour to improve their quality of life.