Health Status Comorbidity and Functional Capacity Among Self-Reported Diabetic Patients in Jamaica: A Population-Based Assessment Using the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions 2023

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major non-communicable disease whose clinical consequences are shaped by coexisting chronic conditions, social circumstances, healthcare access, and functional capacity.

Objective: This study assessed health status, comorbidity, functionality, and selected social characteristics among self-reported diabetic patients in Jamaica using the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) 2023.

 Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted among 322 respondents identified through the survey diabetes indicator, with descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, Pearson chi-square tests, and Cramer's V used to characterise distributions and associations.

Results: Women constituted 64.6% of the sample, 40.1% were aged 60–74 years, 46.6% belonged to the wealthy socioeconomic group, and 54.9% of respondents with valid educational information had post-secondary education; hypertension affected 70.5%, arthritis 27.3%, heart disease 7.8%, asthma 5.3%, cancer 4.0%, and kidney disease 3.4%. Functional health was heterogeneous, with 46.4% reporting no difficulty, 19.0% some difficulty, 15.0% a lot of difficulty, and 19.6% inability to perform the measured activity, while only 21.7% reported health insurance coverage.

Conclusion: Self-reported diabetic patients in Jamaica constitute a clinically and socially heterogeneous population characterised by substantial hypertension-diabetes coexistence, additional chronic morbidity, considerable functional difficulty, and limited insurance coverage, supporting integrated cardiometabolic management, routine functional assessment, rehabilitation, strengthened primary care, and greater financial protection.