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Illness Perception and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

To investigate illness perception in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with the degree of control over relevant cardiovascular risk factors. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed from June 2007 to March 2008. A stratified random sample of 46 Croatian general practitioners was asked to select, using systematic sampling, the first 6 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged > or =18 years who visited them for consultation during the study period. Data on 250 patients included patient illness perception assessment (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, IPQ), cardiovascular risk factors, and socio-demographic data. The patients' mean age was 63.0+/-10.9 years and mean duration of diabetes was 9.3+/-7.8 years. The patients' illness perception assessment on an 11-point (0 to 10) scale showed the highest median scores (interquartile range): 10 (8 to 10) for "timeline" and 8 (7 to 9) for "treatment control, " followed by 7 (5 to 8) for "personal control, " 7 (5 to 9) for "understanding, " 5 (3 to 7) for "consequences, " 6 (4 to 7) for "concern, " and 5 (2 to 7) for "emotional response". The lowest score was 3 (1 to 5) for "identity". Multivariate logistic regression showed that the Brief IPQ item "concern" (P<0.001) was a significant predictor of body mass index ; "personal control" (P<0.001) and "concern" (P=0.048) were significant predictors of fasting blood glucose ; "treatment control" (P=0.009) was a significant predictor of total cholesterol ; and "understanding" (P=0.010) was a significant predictor of blood pressure. As patients' beliefs seem to be associated with the degree of control over cardiovascular risk factors, they should be included in routine clinical assessments.

illness perceprion; cardiovascular risk factors; diabetes mellitus

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