Abstract
During the last 20 years, chronic diseases constitute the main cause of mortality, morbidity and disability worldwide. The cost of therapy is also increased substantially. The quality of life is poor and there is limited physical activity.68 women and 65 men suffering from renal disease, diabetes and beta-thalassaemia, participated in a cross sectional, correlation study aiming into investigation of subjective assessment of quality of life related to health (QLrH) in relation to their level of physical activity. Data were collected in the respective outpatient clinics in primary health care settings of Peloponnese using: a) the short form of the Quality of Life questionnaire (SF-36), b) the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). From these patients, 62 (46.6) are kidney patients undergoing dialysis, 46 (34.6) are patients from the diabetes outpatients’ clinics and 25 (18.5) are patients with beta-thalassaemia. 51.1% of the participants were women, 33.8% were graduates from Colleges/ Universities, and the majority of the participants are married, to a percentage amounting to 59.4%. More than half of them were working for 6-8 hours daily (53.0%) and 68.9% consider their income to be insufficient for their living and personal needs. Furthermore, some seem to be affected from various other organic disorders, comorbidities. Apart from the body disorders known from the bibliography, we statistically remark a significant negative influence of all levels – dimensions of the quality of life in all three groups of patients. In particular: the majority of the participants had low physical activity (52.6%). Men had considerably higher marks in the synoptic scale of physical health a fact that indicates better physical health in comparison to women. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the marks of the participants at the synoptic scale of physical health in accordance with their level of education, both of the high school graduates and the graduates of Universities. Moreover, the participants that used to work 6-8 hours daily had considerably higher marks in the synoptic scale of physical health from other participants. Men got considerably lower marks in the synoptic scale of mental health.