Comparing Quality of Life and Well-Being Among Patients with Chronic Diseases

Background: Chronic diseases are widely recognized to negatively affect individuals' quality of life and well-being. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and well-being among patients with chronic diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study using a self-administered survey was conducted from May 2022 to May 2023 in Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia. Data were collected based on a consecutive sampling technique from patients diagnosed with chronic diseases, including end-stage renal disease, cancer, heart disease, and depressive disorder. During the recruitment process, all patients were in stable condition (stable here refers only to care setting rather than clinical severity) and were recruited from four specialist clinics. All participants completed the Significant Quality of Life Measure (SigQOLM), a comprehensive instrument comprising 69 items that assess 18 domains and four dimensions of quality of life and well-being. Descriptive analysis and General Linear Model Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were applied in the analysis. Results: A total of 168 patients were included in the study. Of these, 41 (24.4%) had end-stage renal disease (ESRD), 48 (28.6%) had cancer, 39 (23.2%) had heart disease, and the remaining 40 (23.8%) had depressive disorder. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.001) in quality of life and well-being among the four chronic disease groups. Despite being in stable condition, patients with depressive disorder reported the poorest quality of life and well-being, whereas patients with cancer and heart disease demonstrated the highest quality of life and well-being (adjusted mean score of 71.6 and 69.6, respectively). Conclusions: Under stable condition, differences in quality of life and well-being were observed among patients with chronic diseases. These findings provide valuable insights for medical practitioners and policymakers in designing and tailoring interventions to improve the quality of life and well-being of patients with chronic diseases.