Impact of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional EQ-5D-3L Study

Aim: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a frequent microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), substantially compromises patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In this study, the impact of DPN on HRQoL was evaluated with the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) together with an evaluation of the clinical and demographic determinants related to HRQoL.Methods: Our study was conducted on 308 patients diagnosed with T2DM at a tertiary endocrinology clinic. DPN was evaluated through neurological examination, deep tendon reflexes, monofilament testing, and vibration perception threshold (VPT) measurements. HRQoL was evaluated with the culturally validated Turkish version of EQ-5D-3L and VAS.Results: DPN was diagnosed in 114 patients (37.0%). Mean EQ-5D-3L index and VAS scores were lower in patients with DPN than those without (0.44 ± 0.30 vs 0.73 ± 0.20; 60.5 ± 21.6 vs 68.5 ± 19.7; p < 0.001). Pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression contributed most to reduced HRQoL. VPT values were found to be significantly and inversely correlated with EQ-5D-3L and VAS results. Subgroup analyses indicated that lower educational attainment and combined insulin–oral treatment were related to poorer HRQoL, while the presence of additional microvascular complications did not further reduce scores.Conclusion: DPN significantly compromises HRQoL in T2DM, with pain and anxiety as dominant drivers. Objective neuropathy severity correlated with poorer perceived health, underscoring the need for early detection and comprehensive management. While the cross-sectional nature of this study exludes causal inference, the findings highlight the importance of integrating neuropathy-specific interventions into patient-centered diabetes care.