Study on the quality of life and its influencing factors in patients with diffuse toxic goiter

Abstract

Objective To compare the quality of life of the patients with diffuse toxic goiter( GD) and normal controls using 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in Chinese, to explore the social and clinical factors which influence the quality of GD's life. Methods 66 patients and 66 normal controls were assessed using self-composing questionnaire and 36-item Short Form Health Survey ( SF-36 ). Results Scores of eight dimensions of quality of life were lower than that of health controls, had significantly differences than that of health controls. There were statistical significant differences in terms of the score difference of eight dimensions between the GD patients and normal controls (P < 0.05 ). The scores of physical functioning dimension in GD patients, normal controls were 70.45 ± 19.25, 92.8 ± 6.51 ( P < 0.01), respectively; in role physical dimension were 39. 42 ± 39.00, 90.97 ±21.67( P<0.01);in bodily pain dimension were 79.36 ± 19.18, 85.98 ± 12.88( P<0.01);in social functioning dimension were 75.95 ± 19.46, 83.79 ± 13.17( P<0.05) ;in role emotional dimension were 37.88 ±40.04, 71.21 ±41.30( P<0.01) ;in mental health dimensions were 52.91 ± 17.31 , 68.67 ± 13.33( P <0.01). The scores of dimensions were related with age, the number of clinical symptom, educational status. In GD group, the scores were positive related with educational status and clinical course;and negative related with age and the number of clinical symptom. Conclusion The quality of life were descend obviously in patients with Graves disease. The number of clinical symptom, age and educational status are the major social and clinical factors, which effected the quality of life of patients with Graves disease. Key words: Diffuse toxic goiter; Quality of life; SF-36