The Effect Of Impaired Balance And Fall Risk On Quality Of Life In Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the leading chronic disorders in nearly all countries due to urbanization, changing lifestyles and lack of physical activity. Neuropathy is the commonest and most debilitating complications of diabetes. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) increases balance impairment, increasing fall risk. Consequences include decline in mobility, avoidance of activity, institutionalization and mortality; thus affecting one’s Quality of Life (Quality of Life). Previous studies have focused on balance impairment and fall risk in DPN patients and also on QoL separately. Thus, the aim of this study is to find the effect of balance impairment and fall risk on QoL. Methods: A correlational study was done on 30 DPN patients, selected by purposive sampling technique. Subjects were screened for neuropathy using Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scoring System (TCSS) and those fulfilling the inclusion criteria, underwent balance and fall risk assessment by Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test respectively. Following which, neuropathy specific quality of life questionnaire (NeuroQoL) was administered to evaluate their QoL. Results obtained were statistically analysed using SPSS 16.0, MS Word and MS Excel. Pearson’s correlation was used to find the correlation between variables. Results: The results showed statistically significant correlation between all the variables. Correlation between BBS and reduction in QoL (r=-0.540, p=0.002), TUG and reduction in QoL (r=0.531, p=0.003). Conclusion: In conclusion, physical limitations such as balance impairment and greater fall risk significantly reduces DPN patient’s QoL.