Better Quality Of Life Research Articles

Real-world data on the management of potentially resectable stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2023: Early adoption of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

e20618 Background: Although early-stage resectable stage IB-IIIA NSCLC has a better prognosis, it is associated with high recurrence rates within the first 5 years, even with chemotherapy (CT) administered pre- or post-surgery. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of metastatic NSCLC in the last 10 years, improving survival and providing patients with a better quality of life. Recently, ICIs have been used alone or in combination with CT for NSCLC in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or perioperative settings, with promising results. Methods: This UK study from Q1 to Q3 2023 included 299 patients who underwent surgery for stage IB to IIIA NSCLC. Anonymous patient charts from oncologists or thoracic surgeons in the UK were analyzed. The analysis included comprehensive clinical and biological data collection with a special focus on adjuvant, neoadjuvant and perioperative treatment regimens. Results: From the 299 patients, 60% were male and 40% were female with a median age of 65 years. Ninety-percent of the patients were ECOG 0-1. Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PDL1) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) status were obtained in 206 and 218 patients, respectively. In 75% of the cases these tests were performed before surgery. At time of diagnosis 14% of the patients had Stage IB disease, 51% Stage II and 35% Stage IIIA. Seventy patients (23%) received neoadjuvant therapy: ICI±CT - 31 patients; CT only - 17 patients; Radiotherapy (RT) only – 10 patients; Concomitant Radio-chemotherapy (CRT) - 11 patients and Sequential CRT - 1 patient. The median number of neoadjuvant CT cycles was 3.7 and included in all patients a platinum-based regimen with Pemetrexed, Vinorelbine or Paclitaxel in 35%, 33% and 20% of the situations respectively. Among the ICIs, 23 patients (74%) received Nivolumab, 5 (16%) received Pembrolizumab, 2 (6%) received Atezolizumab and 1 (3%) received Durvalumab. Complete resection was obtained in 85% of the patients and the post-operative staging was: stage IA – 10% of the cases, stage IB – 20%, stage II - 38% and stage III 31%, respectively. A total of 231 patients (77%) received adjuvant therapy: CT only - 100 patients; ICI±CT - 44 patients; Concomitant CRT - 28 patients; Sequential CRT – 18 patients; RT only – 14 patients and EGFR-inhibitors 27 patients. The median number of adjuvant CT cycles was 4.3 and included in 91% of the cases a platinum-based regimen with Vinorelbine, Paclitaxel or Pemetrexed, in 48%, 19% and 13% of the situations respectively. Among the ICIs, 28 patients (64%) received Atezolizumab, 8 (18%) received Durvalumab, 6 (14%) received Pembrolizumab and 1 (4%) received Nivolumab. Conclusions: This real-life cohort highlights an early adoption of ICIs in managing patients with limited stage resectable NSCLC in the UK, with no major difficulties reported by clinicians.

Improving the quality of information after an obstetrical anal sphincter injury improves the quality of life for women experiencing anal incontinence.

Improving the quality of information after an obstetrical anal sphincter injury improves the quality of life for women experiencing anal incontinence.

A systematic review of the association between early comprehensive geriatric assessment and outcomes in hip fracture care for older people

AimsPerformance indicators are increasingly used to improve the quality of healthcare provided to hip fracture patients. Joint care, under orthopaedic surgeons and physicians with an interest in older patients, is one of the more common indicators of high-quality care. In this systematic review, we investigated the association between ‘comprehensive geriatric assessment’ and patient outcomes following hip fracture injury.MethodsIn total, 12 electronic databases and other sources were searched for evidence, and the methodological quality of studies meeting the inclusion criteria was assessed. The protocol for this suite of related systematic reviews was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023417515).ResultsA total of 24,591 articles were reviewed, and 39 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review, involving a total of 25,363 patients aged over 60 years with a hip fracture. There were five randomized clinical trials, three quasi-experimental studies, two non-randomized parallel group control trials, 22 pre-/post-intervention studies, and seven retrospective cohort studies, conducted between January 1992 and December 2021. The timing and content of a comprehensive geriatric assessment was ill-defined in many studies and care pathways were heterogeneous, which precluded meta-analysis of the data. Early comprehensive geriatric assessment was associated with improved outcomes in 31 of the 36 (86%) patient-reported outcomes, including improved mobility (acute/long-term), functional status, and better quality of life. In total, 155 out of 219 (70.78%) clinical outcomes derived from hospital records showed a positive association with early comprehensive geriatric review, including reduced preoperative time and length of hospital stay, reduced incidence of postoperative complications, fewer hospital readmissions, and lower mortality.ConclusionEarly comprehensive geriatric assessments after hip fracture in older people is associated with improved patient-reported outcomes and better clinical outcomes such as reduced incidence of complications, length of hospital stay, preoperative waiting time, and mortality. Standardization of the definitions of ‘early’ and ‘comprehensive’ geriatric assessments and consistent reporting of care pathway models would improve future evidence synthesis.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2025;107-B(6):595–603.

Immunoembolization for patients with uveal melanoma hepatic metastasis: A single-institution real-world data analysis.

9586 Background: Metastatic disease occurs in up to 50% of patients with uveal melanoma (UM) despite successful treatment of the primary eye tumor. The liver is the predominant organ of involvement in more than 90% of patients, and control of liver metastases is essential to prolonging overall survival (OS). Immunoembolization (IE) with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor +/- interleukin-2 is considered a 1 st line liver-directed therapy for those with <50% hepatic tumor burden at our institution. It is well tolerated, has limited side effects, no cumulative toxicities, and affords good quality of life between scheduled treatments. Methods: A retrospective single-institution chart review was performed on consecutive series of metastatic UM (MUM) patients with hepatic metastasis who were treated at Thomas Jefferson University with IE treatment. The following data were collected from medical records: age, gender, IE treatment history, treatment history before and after IE, last follow-up date, and date of death. Results: 604 MUM patients (median age 62, range 19-91) received IE treatment for UM hepatic metastasis from 11/2000 to 01/2025 for a total of 3,715 IE treatments. 22 patients continue to receive IE. Patients received a median of 4 IE treatments (range 1-45) over 4 months (range 1-118 months). With a median follow-up of 18.3 months (range 0.1-176.4), median OS after IE treatment initiation was 20.0 months (95%CI 18.2-22.3). OS was 73.2% at 1 year, 41.8% at 2 years, 25.3% at 3 years, and 11.2% at 5 years. 30% of patients had treatment of metastatic disease prior to IE and 83% had treatment after IE. 134 patients (22%) had concurrent therapy with IE, most commonly checkpoint inhibitor therapy (48%). Median OS was 21.5 months (95%CI 18.9-23.4) for patients who received IE as first-line metastatic therapy. Except for one patient who died of takotsubo cardiomyopathy after the first IE treatment, IE treatments were well tolerated without serious or long-term complications. Of the subset of patients that experienced a prolonged OS of ≥3 years with IE (n=117), they received a median of 10 treatments over 16 months. Of the patients with prolonged OS of ≥5 years with IE (n=33), they received a median of 12 treatments over 19 months. Patients that experienced prolonged OS with IE ≥3 years were more likely to be female (69%). The longest patient treated with IE was a female who received 45 IE treatments over 10 years. Conclusions: We conducted the largest retrospective study of MUM patients who have received IE treatment. Our real-world data indicates that IE is a safe and effective liver-directed therapy for UM hepatic metastases, and IE should be considered a mainstay of treatment for patients with limited hepatic tumor burden.

Oral Hygiene and Lifestyle in Disadvantaged Schools in North-Eastern Hungary.

Oral Hygiene and Lifestyle in Disadvantaged Schools in North-Eastern Hungary.

Heterogeneity and associated factors of information needs among patients with hematological malignancies in China: a latent profile analysis.

Hematological malignancies involve complex healthcare situations. Sharing knowledge and providing tailored information based on patients' needs are crucial for patient-centered health care. This study explored information needs among Chinese patients with hematological malignancies and identified factors across distinct subgroups. We evaluated 345 patients with hematologic malignancies at any stage from December 2021 to March 2022. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of hematological malignancy patients with different levels of information needs. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors that were associated with information needs. Three subgroups of patients with different information needs were identified: low information needs (8.9%), moderate information needs (52.2%), and high information needs (38.8%). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with longer diagnosis time (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.65), higher quality of life (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.73-0.86), and adequate social support (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.25-0.66) were more likely to be in the low information needs subtypes, whereas patients with worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.00-6.14) were more likely to be in the high information needs subgroup. Patients with hematological malignancies with longer diagnosis time, better quality of life, and adequate social support may be more likely to have low information needs. High information needs may be associated with worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score. Tailored support should be provided to patients based on their information needs. This might help nurses provide relevant support, enhance care quality, and improve patients' quality of life.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in All Types of Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure (HF) leads to a lower quality of life. An increasing number of studies suggest that early initiation of guided-directed medical therapy (GDMT) leads to better outcomes. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor is one of the cornerstones in HF treatment, but its effectiveness in improving quality of life remains uncertain. Methods: A comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials (RCT) was conducted. Outcome measures for cardiovascular death and HF symptoms using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire - Total Symptom Score (KCCQ-TSS) in the early phase of treatment and at 8 months were analyzed using the Review Manager V5.4. The KCCQ-TSS ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating fewer symptoms and physical limitations associated with HF. The treatment effect was shown as a win ratio, in which a value greater than 1 indicates superiority. Results: Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. There was improvement in HF symptoms based on the KCCQ-TSS (HR 3.39 [95%CI: 2.95-3.89]I2 = 68%, p<0.00001) with substantial heterogeneity. The major source of heterogeneity identified was the interval when the KCCQ-TSS was performed, hence a subgroup analysis that specifically monitored patients during the eighth month of treatment was done, which showed improvement in HF symptoms (HR 3.16 [95%CI: 2.98-3.36)I2 = 8%, p<0.00001) in SGLT-2 inhibitors compared to placebo. Conclusion: The meta-analysis showed that initiation of SGLT-2 inhibitors resulted in improvement of HF symptoms which may lead to improvement of patients’ quality of life. Therefore, SGLT-2 inhibitors in all types of HF are effective in promoting better quality of life. Keywords: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, heart failure, quality of life

Minimally Invasive Techniques for Large-Volume Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Comparative Study Between HoLEP and Robotic Simple Prostatectomy

Background/Objectives: The aim of this research was to compare perioperative outcomes, functional results, quality of life, and complications between robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) and holmium laser prostate enucleation (HoLEP) as minimally invasive techniques for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in large prostates (>150 cm3). Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study (2007–2023) included patients with >150 cm3 prostate volumes who underwent either HoLEP or robot-assisted prostatectomy. Primary outcomes: success rate (complete enucleation, without transfusion or reintervention), good postoperative quality of life (IPSS 8th question score: 0–2), and continence at 6 months (no pads). Secondary outcomes: operative and catheterization time, hospital stay, enucleated gland weight, PSA reduction, Qmax improvement, and perioperative complications. Results: We included 95 HoLEP and 50 RASP patients with similar demographics and prostate volume (HoLEP: 187.72 cm3; RASP: 203.38 cm3). The success rate (HOLEP: 83.2%; RASP: 74%), continence rate (HoLEP: 85.1%; RASP: 86%), and quality of life (HoLEP: 83.2%; RASP 94%) were similar (p = 0.275, p = 1, and p = 0.075, respectively). HoLEP had a shorter operative time (97.58 vs. 122.4 min) and catheterization duration, with similar hospitalization duration (HoLEP: 3.46 days; RASP: 4.22 days). Although there was no significant difference in enucleated gland weight, HoLEP was more efficient (1.28 g/min vs. 1.06 g/min). Complication rates were similar (HOLEP: 15.5%; RASP: 26%; p = 0.12). Conclusions: Both RASP and HoLEP are safe for treating BPH in prostates >150 cm3, reporting similar success and continence rates and good quality of life after surgery. However, HoLEP achieved results with shorter operative time and catheterization duration.

Quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving cytotoxic and cytotoxic plus targeted therapy

BackgroundTargeted therapies in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have reportedly been associated with better quality of life (QoL). Previous studies have revealed uncontrolled sources of biases or confounders that could distort this association. Given the lack of robust evidence and causal inference, we aimed to investigate the effects of targeted therapy-added regimens versus cytotoxic therapy (CyT) on QoL and components of QoL in patients with mCRC eligible for curative-intent treatment.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study on adults undergoing curative-intent mCRC treatment with survival prognosis of ≥ 1 year. The exposure was either CyT alone (including CAPEOX, mFOLFOX-6, mFOLFOX-7, FOLFIRI, and FOLFOXIRI) or CyT combined with targeted therapy (Cy-TaT, including CAPEOX-TaT, mFOLFOX-6-TaT, mFOLFOX-7-TaT, FOLFIRI-TaT, and FOLFOXIRI-TaT). Available targeted therapies included bevacizumab and regorafenib. The primary outcome was overall health and QoL (H/QoL), measured at month 12 using the EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL scale (in percentage point) and the EQ-5D-3L utility score. The secondary outcomes included each component of the EORTC QLQ-C30 functional scales and symptom scales/items (in percentage point), measured at month 12. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using g-estimation.ResultsDuring 12 months of follow-up, among 1143 participants (mean age 58.1, 39.4% being female, 623 in CyT group and 520 in Cy-TaT group), overall H/QoL was higher in those receiving Cy-TaT (EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL scale: MD 16.6, 95% CI 14.8 to 18.4, p < 0.001 [largest effect in CAPEOX-TaT versus CAPEOX: MD 18.7, 95% CI 15.2 to 22.2]; EQ-5D-3L utility score: MD 0.076, 95% CI 0.060 to 0.091 [largest effect in mFOLFOX-7-TaT versus mFOLFOX-7: MD 0.123, 95% CI 0.085 to 0.161]). For the EORTC QLQ-C30 functional scales and most areas of the symptom scales/items, treatment with Cy-TaT was also associated with better outcomes than with CyT, except for a contradictory association in financial difficulties. Symptoms with consistently large improvements from Cy-TaT were fatigue (MD 13.8, 95% CI 11.7 to 15.9), dyspnoea (MD 10.9, 95% CI 8.8 to 12.9), and insomnia (MD 13.0, 95% CI 10.2 to 15.7).ConclusionCompared with those on CyT alone, patients with mCRC receiving Cy-TaT showed improved overall H/QoL, functional scales, and symptom scales/items. These benefits were consistent across most subgroups of chemotherapy, with the greatest improvements in H/QoL observed in the CAPEOX-TaT and mFOLFOX-7-TaT groups.

Analysis of Predictors of Self-Management in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Impact of Self-Management on Quality of Life: A Latent Profile Analysis.

To investigate the latent profiles and correlates of self-management behaviours in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients and the effects of different latent profiles on the quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients. A cross-sectional survey was used to study rheumatoid arthritis patients. The five dimensions of the Rheumatoid Self-Management Competence Scale were used as exogenous indicators for potential categorisation, and the effects of potential categorisation were analysed by mixed regression to explore the effects of different categorisations on quality of life. Self-management behaviours of rheumatoid arthritis patients were classified into three latent profiles: low self-management daily life management group (25.7%), medium self-management medical behaviour management group (57.3%) and high self-management daily life management group (17.0%). Age, literacy level, per capita monthly income, joint functional status, self-efficacy, health literacy, disease perception level and social support were significant correlates of self-management status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients in the 'high self-management daily life management group' reported the best quality of life, while those in the 'low self-management daily life management group' reported the worst quality of life. There was significant heterogeneity in self-management skills among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Healthcare professionals should develop personalised interventions based on self-management profiles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in order to enhance patients' self-management ability and improve their quality of life. Few studies have discussed the differences in the various dimensions of rheumatoid self-management levels, and self-management care measures need to be improved for different levels of self-management. This study categorised the level of self-management in rheumatoid arthritis patients into three profiles. The results of this study may provide more personalised interventions for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. The subjects of the study were outpatient rheumatoid arthritis patients. Prior to the survey, patients were informed about the purpose of the study, informed consent was given to them and signed and they filled out the questionnaire independently. For patients who were unable to fill out the questionnaire, the study members explained it objectively to them and helped them select the appropriate option.

Osteoarthritis Management Reimagined: Bridging Traditional Therapies with Nanotechnology and Personalized Medicine for Better Outcomes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide, profoundly affecting patients’ mobility and quality of life. Traditional management strategies—such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, and surgical interventions—primarily target symptom relief but often fall short in modifying disease progression and can be associated with significant side effects. Recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology have opened new avenues for OA treatment, with nanoformulations offering targeted drug delivery, prolonged therapeutic action, and minimized systemic toxicity. Innovations like liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and 3D-printed nanomaterial scaffolds are enabling more precise and sustained interventions, while theranostic platforms are beginning to integrate real-time diagnostics with therapy for truly personalized care. Despite these exciting developments, challenges such as manufacturing complexity, cost, and regulatory hurdles must be addressed before these technologies can be widely adopted in clinical practice. Ongoing research and well-designed clinical trials are crucial for validating the safety and efficacy of these novel approaches. Ultimately, the integration of nanotechnology and personalized medicine holds great promise for revolutionizing osteoarthritis management, offering hope for improved outcomes and a better quality of life for patients.

Case report: behavior of a domestic cat while watching different programs with his tutor

Animal welfare is something that has become very important for understanding animals in general nowadays, and is an accurate way of determining whether an animal has a good or bad quality of life. This article was created with the aim of understanding whether a specimen of domestic cat, when exposed to visual stimuli from television, can improve its quality of life and whether it may have capabilities to have favorites programs and characters. The way to analyze the animal was by reading its body language, since cats have one of the most expressive body languages it was the perfect option to know about what it’s feeling and trying to communicate with the others who are near it. Four factors were selected as the most conclusive for the collection of data, being the time of: Watching, Sleeping, Distracted and Cleanliness. For the collection of data this article was divided in two experiments, one with a wider variety of types of program and one with only one to comprehend the animal more specifically. The feline does not see the act of watching a television as a necessity, it’s more a choice of the animal who desires do go and watch something on the screen. The most important factors that were noticed happen in behavior that could be considerate both negative and positive, and an improvement between the relationship of the tutor with the cat.

Status and Associated Factors of Breakfast Consumption Among Chinese Residents: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

While the importance of breakfast for human health is widely acknowledged, there is limited understanding of the factors influencing breakfast habits among Chinese residents. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey between June 20 and August 31, 2022, analyzing weekly breakfast frequency, food categories, and associated factors to daily breakfast consumption using multivariable logistic regression, with subgroup analyses by gender and residence (urban or rural). Among 21,875 participants, 41.0% reported non-daily breakfast consumption. Common breakfast items included staples like rice, wheat, and corn (70.5%), eggs (56.2%), dairy products (42.0%), and soy drinks (36.8%), while less frequently consumed items included meat products (26.3%), potatoes (23.4%), fresh vegetables and fruits (20.2%), and pickled vegetables (18.2%). Behavioral factors such as sleeping 6-7 h and abstaining from smoking and sugar-sweetened beverages, along with health factors like better quality of life, family health, and higher self-efficacy, were positively associated with daily breakfast consumption. Depression was negatively associated. Sociodemographic factors including female gender, living in southern China, and having children were positively associated, whereas rural residency, higher education levels, being a student or unemployed, and living alone were negatively associated. Subgroup analyses revealed pronounced variations in breakfast habits by residence (urban vs. rural) but fewer differences by gender. Non-daily breakfast consumption is prevalent among Chinese residents, with multiple sociodemographic, behavioral, and health factors influencing this behavior. Region- and gender-specific strategies are essential to promote healthy breakfast habits, address disparities, and encourage healthier breakfast practices across diverse subgroups.

Extra-anatomical urinary diversion for malignant ureteric obstruction: our clinical experience.

Ureteral stenosis and upper urinary tract obstruction present significant clinical challenges, especially in cases involving complex, long strictures. Traditional management options like ureteral stents and percutaneous nephrostomy tubes often result in complications and diminished quality of life. Extra-anatomical urinary diversion (EAUD) offers an alternative approach, particularly for oncologic patients requiring palliative care. From 2015 to 2019, eight patients with cancer-related ureteral strictures underwent EAUD. In all patients cancer-specific prognosis exceeded one year. The procedure was performed using a standard surgical technique. The mean patient age was 62.5 years, ranging from 22 to 82 years. The mean follow-up duration was 62.8 months. Improvement in renal function was observed in some patients, while the early complication rate was 62.5%. Notable complications included infections and encrustation of the prosthesis. Two patients experienced multiple infections of the overlying skin and soft tissue necessitated the dislodgement of the prothesis after 38 and 101 months, respectively. Extra-anatomical stent placement constitutes a somewhat effective and safe option in the context of complex ureteral obstruction management in oncologic patients. The lack of external devices and its longer duration without the need for substitution compared with conventional double J stents can theoretically assure a better quality of life. However, a careful patient selection is needed in order to maximize the patients' benefit.

PREDICTORS OF CONTRACTILITY RECOVERY AND ARRYTHMIC BURDEN IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED HEART FAILURE WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION: A CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY

PREDICTORS OF CONTRACTILITY RECOVERY AND ARRYTHMIC BURDEN IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED HEART FAILURE WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION: A CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY

Poverty alleviation policies, programs and practices for people with disabilities: A scoping review and recommendations.

People with disabilities have a higher prevalence of living in poverty compared to people without disabilities, which largely results from the challenges, barriers, inequalities and discrimination they often encounter. However, little is known about relevant policies, practices, and anti-poverty interventions that could facilitate a better quality of life for people with disabilities. A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology was used to explore the existing practices, policies and interventions to address poverty among people with disabilities. The search involved six international databases: Ovid Medline, Healthstar, PsychINFO, Econlit, Scopus and Web of Science where two reviewers screened 4548 studies for inclusion. Thirty-seven studies were included in the review, which spanned across 20 countries. Our review noted the following key trends: (1) poverty alleviation policies; (2) programs and practices to address poverty (e.g., benefits, barriers and factors affecting access); and (3) cash transfers, especially their impact and factors affecting transfers. The findings of this review underscore the potential value of poverty alleviation strategies and policies for assisting people with disabilities. The results could help to inform guidelines and recommendations for policies, practices, and interventions to help alleviate poverty among people with disabilities.

Assessment of the Link Between Urban Quality of Life and Migration Flows: The Case of Lithuania

One of the main reasons for migration is the search for a better quality of life. The concept of quality of life is very broad, encompassing economic, social, political, and cultural factors. According to the World Migration Report 2022, 3.6 percent of the world’s population are migrants. This number is growing due to geopolitical reasons. Increasing migration flows affect the growth of the part of the population living in urban areas, that is, urbanisation. The scale of migration is growing along with the search for a better life. In Lithuania, according to the Department of Statistics, as well as throughout the world, the number of people living in cities is constantly growing; for comparison, a 3% growth has been observed over 4 years, in the European Union, according to the World Bank, 1%, and in the world—1%. The term urbanisation also describes social changes that are determined by the concentration of the population. To ensure quality of life, cities face challenges such as ensuring security, integration of migrants into society and the labour market, the functioning of the health and education system, and sustainable development of cities. Despite growing interest, the impact of migrant flows on the quality of life in cities has not been sufficiently studied in the world scientific literature. Most research is focused on the causes of migration, migrant integration, demographic changes, or labour market interactions. However, less attention is paid to how the dynamics of migrant flows affect the quality of life in cities. Comprehensive assessment is lacking. The goal is to assess the link between quality of life and the dynamics of migration flows in urbanised areas. The article, which conducted a systematic and comparative analysis of concepts published in the scientific literature, formed the concept of quality of life in urban areas, identified the factors that determine quality of life, and studied the link between the quality of life in the city and the dynamics of migration flows. This assessment will allow us to combine the factors that determine quality of life in terms of changes in migrant flows into a common system. To achieve this goal, statistical processing, correlation analysis, and CRITIC methods will be applied.

FATORES INTERFERENTES NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE IDOSOS

This article presents a systematic review that aims to highlight collaborations of studies on the factors that positively or negatively influence the quality of life of elderly people. For this, 28 publications were selected from the CAPES and SCIELO Periodicals platforms. It is said that in the last five years interest in the subject has increased. The variable of factors that interfere both positively and negatively do not distort the relationships that the publications make with the need for good aging, comfortable aging and quality of life are mentioned, on the contrary, they further confirm the need for continuous exploration of the aspects involved.

Demographic, ecological and social predictors of quality of life among parents of autistic children: A multi-centre cross-sectional study.

Parents experience lower quality of life due to the psychological, financial and social challenges of caring for an autistic child. This study aims to identify the independent demographic and social predictors of parents' quality of life, to allocate support to parents who truly need it. Al-Subtain Academy and Baghdad's National Center for Autism recruited 248 parents in a cross-sectional study from 3 January to 13 September 2024. Demographics, quality of life and social support were assessed using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were significant for all domains except role functioning (p = 0.258). The explained variance ranged from 50.8% for health perception to 19.5% for physical functioning. Mothers reported lower health perception and physical functioning than fathers (p = 0.015, p < 0.001). Parents with chronic condition also reported lower health perception, mental health, social functioning and higher pain scores (p-values: <0.001, 0.029, 0.023, 0.014). In addition, parents of female children and those with comorbidities reported lower mental health (p-values: 0.018, 0.004). Marital satisfaction was positively associated with all domains except pain (negative association) and physical/role functioning (no association). In conclusion, mothers, younger parents, parents with chronic conditions or female children, or whose children have comorbidities should be prioritised during interventions that promote family functioning and social support.Lay AbstractParents can face emotional and social challenges when taking care of autistic children, which can lower their quality of life. These challenges do not affect all parents in the same way. That is why we need to find out which parents are having more trouble, so that we can give more support to those who need it the most. Our goal was to identify which background and social factors are linked to lower quality of life in parents of autistic children. First, we found that parents of autistic children have lower mental and social well-being than physical quality of life. We argued that the type of challenges faced by parents might be the cause. We also detected lower quality of life among mothers, younger parents, parents with long-term conditions or autistic daughters, or whose children have other conditions besides autism. Finally, we found that marital satisfaction was the most important element in social support. Marital satisfaction is linked to a better quality of life in all areas except being able to do normal daily tasks and physical activities.

Factors associated with long-term function in cats treated with femoral head and neck excision.

To assess long-term function in cats following femoral head and neck excision and to investigate if age, weight, sex, breed, outdoor access, multiple injuries, bilateral surgery, complications or physiotherapeutic treatment is associated with long-term function. Cats treated with femoral head and neck excision without any postoperative major injury or disease were included in a case-control study. An owner-completed Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index was used to assess function ≥6 months after surgery. Cats with a score of ≥3 were categorized as having functional impairment (cases). Cats with a score of <3 were categorized as having normal function (controls). Cats' medical records were used to collect information about characteristics, postoperative care and complications. Thirty-five cats which had undergone uni- or bilateral femoral head and neck excision met the inclusion criteria. Scores ranged from -14 to 11 (median 0, interquartile range 3), 23 (66%) of the cats had normal function and 12 (34%) of the cats had impaired function. Owners of 34 cats (97%) reported good or excellent quality of life. There was an association between being female and a score of ≥3 (odds ratio 24.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 512.6). No other factors were significantly associated with long-term function. At long-term follow-up, owner-reported quality of life was high. However, 34% of cats had functional impairment and female cats had higher odds of impaired function. This suggests that solely owner-reported quality of life should not be used to assess outcomes after femoral head and neck excision.