Abstract
ObjectiveTo chart patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) in Norwegian patients treated for definite neuroborreliosis (NB).Material and MethodsAdult patients treated for definite NB 1–10 years earlier supplied demographics, symptoms and treatment during NB, and answered validated questionnaires; Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), health‐related quality of life questionnaire (RAND‐36), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐15).ResultsA higher proportion of NB‐treated persons reported severe fatigue, defined as FSS score ≥ 5, than in Norwegian normative data, but when removing persons with confounding fatigue associated comorbidities (n = 69) from the analyses, there was no difference between groups. Physical health‐related quality of life (RAND‐36 PCS), mean FSS score, proportions of persons reporting moderate or severe somatic symptom burden (PHQ‐15 score ≥ 10), anxiety (HADS‐A ≥ 8), or depression (HADS‐D ≥ 8) did not differ between NB‐treated persons and reference scores. Mental health‐related quality of life (RAND‐36 MCS) was poorer than in normative data (47.1 vs. 53.3), but associated with anxiety, depression and current moderate or severe somatic symptom burden, and not with NB characteristics.ConclusionsResults on validated PROM questionnaires measuring fatigue, anxiety, depression, self‐reported somatic symptom burden, and physical health‐related quality did not differ between persons treated for definite NB 1–10 years earlier and reference scores. NB‐treated persons tended to report a slightly poorer mental health‐related quality of life than found in normative data, but when adjusting for confounders the causative connection is questionable. Overall, the long‐term prognosis of definite NB seems to be good.
Highlights
Most patients recover well after treated neuroborreliosis (NB; Obel et al, 2018), but some report residual symptoms as pain, paresthesias, fatigue, and cognitive deficits (Eikeland, Ljostad, Mygland, Herlofson, & Lohaugen, 2012; Eikeland, Mygland, Herlofson, & Ljostad, 2011; Knudtzen, Andersen, Jensen, & Skarphedinsson, 2017; Ljøstad & Mygland, 2010)
Results on validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaires measuring fatigue, anxiety, depression, self-reported somatic symptom burden, and physical health-related quality did not differ between persons treated for definite NB 1–10 years earlier and reference scores
Inclusion criteria were adult patients (≥18 years) treated for definite NB according to the EFNS diagnostic guidelines between 2006 and 2014
Summary
Most patients recover well after treated neuroborreliosis (NB; Obel et al, 2018), but some report residual symptoms as pain, paresthesias, fatigue, and cognitive deficits (Eikeland, Ljostad, Mygland, Herlofson, & Lohaugen, 2012; Eikeland, Mygland, Herlofson, & Ljostad, 2011; Knudtzen, Andersen, Jensen, & Skarphedinsson, 2017; Ljøstad & Mygland, 2010). Almost all aspects of the phenomenon postborreliosis symptoms are debated, including its existence, prevalence, cause, spectrum, and impact (Halperin, 2017). In a meta-analysis of 34 studies, Dersch, Sommer, Rauer, and Meerpohl (2016) found that about 28% of patients treated for NB had residual symptoms, most often pain. The authors debate whether the results are biased and if reports of debilitating fatigue and cognitive impairment after NB could “be an artifact of unspecific case definitions in single studies”. It was recommended to apply strict case definitions and to put more emphasis on impact of residual symptoms
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
