Type 2 Diabetes, Article Critique Example

Type 2 diabetes, which is commonly known as diabetes mellitus type 2 is a high blood sugar level disorder. The disorder comes because of inadequate insulin in regulating glucose level, in blood; this is due to the failure of kidneys to produce the enzyme or producing the enzyme in small quantities. Type II is common in adults, it triggers owing to the inability of the pancreas to produce adequate insulin to stabilize normal glucose levels in blood. It is imperative that it worsens because of high cholesterol in the body, poor lifestyles, and obesity. The common symptoms of the disorder include; excess thirst, frequent urination, and constant hunger. Compared with type 1 diabetes, this type is most common among the elderly, studies shows that 90% of diabetes cases reported is type 2 with type 1 being only 10% of the total cases reported (Sinclair 120). If left unattended, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney, and nerve diseases and heart related diseases and stroke. Type II can be improved or even reversed by living a healthy lifestyle, having a healthy diet and exercise. The disorder has a significant impact on the Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which is a negative impact to the patient’s health. The core reason for this study was to establish the relationship and association between HRQOL and total and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes with focus laid on age and sex. The study will be of exceptional significance on clinical implication since HRQOL, which is associated to mortality is of vital concern in the study.

In the study, the independent variables and dependent variables was used to determine the effect of this diabetes on the patients’ health and mortality rates. The independent variable in this case was achieved using RAND-36.cox proportional hazard. The measure was significant as it gives the effects of type 2 diabetes on HRQOL and mortality in the study. The patients’ HRQOL measured and exposed to the model. The dependent variable in the study was effects of blood sugar level on HRQOL levels on the sample population (Sinclair, Morley, and Vellas 1200). The study samples used was patients with type 2 diabetes; cohort of 1,352 patients was used. The study sample consists of men and women of different age. Use of population with a difference in age was efficient since the disease is different amongst these groups.

It was necessary to conduct the study on the relationship between HRQOL and mortality of diabetic patients. HRQOL of patients with type 2 diabetes was measured using RAND-36. Cox proportional hazard models, 1,353 patients were used as the cohort of the study. The design deemed suitable for the study since it involves associating the physical and mental components with the total mortality. The cohort used in the study consists of patients with different age groups and sexes. The differences in mental stability were noted between men and women, and individuals aged 75 years and above. The study design was thus appropriate and efficient for the study. Recent studies were used to compare the effects of HRQOL and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. The use of RAND-36 as an independent marker for mortality rates was efficient in this study. This study design as compared to the previously used is more predictive in the elderly population, which will be an essential tool for clinicians. This study was a 10-year project, thus need to select patients who will be available throughout the entire period. Type 2 diabetic patients were selected the sample excludes those patients who are treated by internal medicine specialist, patients with short-time life expectancy and those with mental problems.

Patients who participated in the study were issued with questionnaires as a method of collecting data, other method of collecting data include full medical history of the patients, laboratory results and physical assessment. Use of RAND-36 as a study design was appropriate as it involves mental and physical examination of the patients. Using RAND-36 score, level and the extent of the disorder can be determined hence will be of exceptional significance for clinical implications when dealing with related cases in the future (Carver and Weinger 307). The study design was doing appropriate for this study. The use of the questionnaire as a method of data collection offers limitations to study, the cohort population consists of elderly who might be illiterate, and thus questionnaire will not be the appropriate method.

The research study last for a period of 9.6 years. At the beginning of the study, 1,353 patients were used as the cohort 570 patients died in the process this amounts to 42% of the cohort. Out of 570 deaths, 238 deaths reported because of cardiovascular causes. Research results shows that a larger percentage on deaths were recorded for patients above 75 years of age (53.3%). The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) for elderly patients were inversely proportional with the mortality. The study shows that the PCS and MCS were related to total and cardiovascular mortality despite the difference in age and sex. Total mortality results into more deaths cardiovascular mortality. The results show that there is a close relationship between sex HRQOL and mental health. The results showed that the sex HRQOL and mental health for female patients were higher than those of men were. These results are significant for future diagnosis and treatment of the disease, and administration of drugs to diabetic patients. The results are reliable since it was a long-term study, which involves intensive monitoring of patients.

The conclusion for this study were appropriate the study lasted for almost 10 years, involves intensive follow up of diabetic patients thus the conclusions made are accurate and reliable, for example, the study came up with the association between MSC score and mortality, this relationship will be of considerable help in clinical implications. The existence of the relationship between MSC and PSC, and cardiovascular mortality and how it relates with age and sex offers crucial information to be used when dealing with patients of different ages and sex (Snoek and Skinner 155). These results support clinical recommendation, as they are clinically relevant thus will be of significance to clinicians in identifying patients with associated risk mortality and the likelihood to worsen in the future. The T-Score transformation, which was performed, permits the room for making comparisons of average scores of health in different countries.

The study, however, fails to address the existence of a relationship between both HRQOL and mortality; no sound solution exists concerning HRQOL as either a modifiable risk factor or a marker of a disease burden. The study is also subject to limitations concerning completion of RAND-36 questionnaires. It did not take into consideration the effect of depression and social economic status, which might have determined the nature of results.

Works Cited

Carver, Catherine and Weinger, Katie. Educating Your Patient with Diabetes. New York: Springer, 2008.

Sinclair, Alan, Morley, John and Vellas, Bruno. Pathy’s Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.

Sinclair, Alan. Diabetes in Old Age. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Snoek, Frank and Skinner, Chas. Psychology in Diabetes Care. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2007.