Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the profile of disability in patients with type 2 diabetes and to evaluate its associated variables.
Method: The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) assessed disabilities in 475 type 2 diabetic individuals. The activities were categorised by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate pain, emotional and physical functioning domains of life-quality. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the independent correlates of better/worse performance.
Results:: Median COPM score was 4.5 (interquartile range 3–6). Problems in mobility (53.6%), self-care (21.1%) and daily-life (13.0%) were most frequently self-reported. Presence of restriction/pain in the upper limbs (odds ratio [OR]: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.11–2.47; p=0.013) and of peripheral neuropathy (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06–2.53; p=0.026) were associated with greater chance of worse performance. Higher values of SF-36 in pain and emotional domains (each 10 point increase; OR: 0.92 95% CI: 0.85–0.98; p=0.011; OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92–1.00; p=0.063, respectively) and physical activity (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.41–0.98; p=0.042) were associated with better performance.
Conclusions:: Type 2 diabetic patients frequently reported disabilities in mobility, self-care and daily-life domains; and its associated factors were the presence of depression, upper limb pain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) instrument can be applied to patients with diabetes, as it identifies several disabilities, mostly in mobility, self-care and domestic life areas.
Rehabilitation directed to upper limb pain/limitation and to lower limb peripheral neuropathy shall be implemented and may improve diabetic patients’ performance and quality of life.
A patient-centered rehabilitation strategy, guided by the COPM, may enable greater independence and autonomy, but this should be confirmed in future intervention studies.
Implications for Rehabilitation
Declaration of interest
This study was partially supported by research grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and from the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.