Calidad de vida y depresión en pacientes mayores de 40 años con diabetes mellitus sometidos a amputación de miembro inferior en el Hospital General del Norte de Guayaquil IESS Los Ceibos en el período de abril - julio del 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Amputation is a necessary surgical procedure in cases where the patient's life is in imminent danger. Lower limb amputations often lead to disability, negatively impacting the patients' quality of life and emotional well-being. Diabetic patients are at a higher risk of depression, which further worsens the decline in their quality of life. The objective of this study is to establish that lower limb amputation causes deterioration in quality of life and the development of depression in patients. Methodology: This observational, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted at HGNGC between April and July 2024. Patients over 40 years old with lower limb amputations due to complications from diabetes mellitus were included. Data were collected from 60 patients through interviews and medical record reviews, assessing the severity of depression using the PHQ-9 questionnaire and quality of life using the Barthel Index. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and Pearson and Spearman correlations to examine the relationship between the variables. Results: This study did not manifest a statistically significance (χ2=2.079, p=0.149) between the patients with moderate or severe depression and a poorer quality of life. Nevertheless, the research that was conducted did show a direct relationship between these two variables. The lack of statistical significance could have been a result of the limited sample size. The population of this study had an average of 72 years of age, the mean of the depression score was 2.83, which corresponds to a mild/moderate depression. Lastly the mean of the quality-of-life score was 3.32, which corresponds to a moderate quality of life. Conclusion: Lower limb amputation due to diabetes mellitus significantly affects patients' quality of life, and the severity of depression is closely related to this decline. It is essential that the treatment of these patients includes psychological interventions to improve their emotional well-being and functional capacity, which could optimize their adaptation after amputation and their life quality.