Health-related quality of life in Cystic Fibrosis patients infected with transmissible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains: cohort study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients of chronic infection with the Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Psa).DesignCohort study.ParticipantsAdult CF patients attending a single CF centre.SettingOutpatient clinic.Main outcome measuresHRQoL measures of adult CF patients chronically infected with LES and Psa strains measured by CFQ-UK.ResultsPatients infected by transmissible Psa strains had worse physical functioning, respiratory symptoms, treatment burden, vitality, role, health perception and emotion than those with unique Psa strains (P < 0.01), and significantly poorer physical functioning, respiratory symptoms, treatment burden, body image, weight, role, and emotion than those without any Psa infection (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in a matched cohort of 39 patients, those with LES infection reported significantly worse physical functioning, treatment burden, respiratory symptoms and health perception than those with unique Psa infection (P < 0.02).ConclusionChronic infection with transmissible Psa strains, particularly LES, confers a worse quality of life in adult CF patients. Coupled with the established poorer clinical outcome, this reinforces the need to prevent the spread of such strains in CF community.