Introduction: Diabetic cardio-renal disease imposes a severe quality of life (QoL) burden, which is understudied in the Indian context. This study evaluated the impact of dapagliflozin on health-related QoL (HRQoL) using the EQ-5D instrument in this high-risk diabetic population.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center in South India from December 2024 to September 2025. A total of 287 adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiac (n=174) or renal (n=113) complications, stabilized on dapagliflozin 10 mg daily, were included. The standardized EQ-5D-3L questionnaire was administered at baseline and after 9 months. Changes in the five dimensions (Mobility, Self-care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, Anxiety/Depression) and overall utility scores were analyzed.
Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in overall EQ-5D utility scores (Renal: 43.79±9.74 to 64.77±7.88; Cardio: 43.56±9.81 to 63.65±7.59; p<0.001 for both). Dimension-level analysis revealed dramatic recovery: the proportion of patients with severe mobility limitations (Levels 4/5) decreased from 88.5% to 4.9%, and 17.1% achieved unimpaired mobility. Usual activities and pain/discomfort showed significant positive shifts, including the emergence of pain-free states (12.6%). Self-care improved more modestly, with 64.8% still reporting moderate-severe issues at follow-up. A notable subgroup with extreme baseline anxiety/depression did not improve.
Conclusion: Dapagliflozin therapy was associated with significant, multidimensional improvements in HRQoL in Indian patients with diabetic cardio-renal disease. While mobility and usual activities showed near-normalization, self-care and psychological well-being in severely distressed patients represent persistent challenges, highlighting areas for targeted, holistic intervention.
Keywords: Dapagliflozin, Diabetic cardio and renal Indian population, Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL), EQ-5D standard questionnaire
How to cite this article: Selvaraj H, VJ D, Jose R, Impact of Dapagliflozin on Quality of Life: An EQ-5D Observational Study in Indian Patients with Diabetic Cardio-renal disease. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(2s): 140-147; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.140-147