Decline In Health-related Quality Research Articles

Assessment of adherence to treatment recommendations among patients with heart failure: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a chronic condition characterized by significant impairment of the cardiovascular system, leading to a decline in health-related quality of life, recurrent hospitalizations, and increased mortality risk. It poses a substantial challenge for modern medicine, particularly when patients fail to adhere to therapeutic recommendations. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the level of adherence to therapeutic guidelines among patients with HF and identify factors influencing adherence levels.MethodsThe study comprised 105 HF patients admitted to the cardiology department. A diagnostic survey approach was utilized, employing the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS) along with a self-developed questionnaire.ResultsThe findings revealed that 39.05% of participants exhibited a moderate level of adherence to therapeutic recommendations, while 34.29% reported high adherence and 26.67% displayed low adherence. Most of the patients (n = 66) had a rather good level of knowledge. Factors such as higher education (p < 0.001), engagement in mental work (p = 0.001), favorable socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), being in a stable relationship (p < 0.001), and residing with family (p < 0.001) were associated with increased adherence levels. The multivariable linear regression model indicated significant (p < 0.05) independent predictors that positively influenced the ACDS score, including being in a relationship, widowhood, and average or poor financial situation. Conversely, factors such as obesity and respiratory diseases were associated with a decrease in the ACDS score (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study underscores the moderate adherence level to therapeutic recommendations among HF patients. Sociodemographic factors including education level, relationship status, occupation, financial stability, and living arrangements significantly impact adherence. Conversely, patients with obesity, respiratory conditions, or frequent HF-related hospitalizations demonstrate lower adherence. Patient education emerges as a pivotal factor influencing adherence. Tailored interventions targeting these factors could enhance adherence and optimize HF management outcomes.

Optimizing Triage of Ambulatory Patients With Advanced HeartFailure: 2-Year Outcomes From REVIVAL.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) use remains uncommon in advanced heart failure (HF) patients not dependent on inotropes. Before considering a randomized trial comparing a strategy of earlier use of LVAD to continued medical therapy, a better understanding is needed of the clinical trajectory of ambulatory patients with advanced systolic HF on optimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). REVIVAL enrolled 400 patients with advanced ambulatory systolic HF,≥1 HF mortality risk marker (≥2 HF hospitalizations past year; or HF hospitalization and high natriuretic peptide; or no HF hospitalizations but low peak oxygen consumption, 6-minute walk, serum sodium, HF survival score or Seattle HF model predicted survival), and no LVAD contraindication at 21 LVAD centers from July 2015 to June 2016. Patients were followed for 2 years or until a primary outcome (death, durable ventricular assist device, or urgent transplant). Clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life were evaluated. Mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction was 21%, median 6-minute walk was 341 m, and 92% were Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support profiles 5 to 7. Adherence to GDMT and electrical device therapies was robust. Composite primary outcome occurred in 22% and 37% at 1 and 2 years, with death alone in 8% and 16%, respectively. Patients surviving for 2 years maintained GDMT intensity and had no decline in health-related quality of life. Structured, serial follow-up at programs with expertise in caring for advanced ambulatory systolic HF patients facilitates triage for advanced therapies. Better strategies are still needed to avoid deaths in a small but significant group of patients who die without advanced therapies. REVIVAL patients not selected for VAD or transplant have robust survival and patient-reported outcomes, which challenges advocacy for earlier VAD implantation. (RegistryEvaluation of Vital Information for VADs in Ambulatory Life [REVIVAL]; NCT01369407).

Circadian rhythm analysis using wearable-based accelerometry as a digital biomarker of aging and healthspan

Recognizing the pivotal role of circadian rhythm in the human aging process and its scalability through wearables, we introduce CosinorAge, a digital biomarker of aging developed from wearable-derived circadian rhythmicity from 80,000 midlife and older adults in the UK and US. A one-year increase in CosinorAge corresponded to 8–12% higher all-cause and cause-specific mortality risks and 3–14% increased prospective incidences of age-related diseases. CosinorAge also captured a non-linear decline in resilience and physical functioning, evidenced by an 8–33% reduction in self-rated health and a 3–23% decline in health-related quality of life score, adjusting for covariates and multiple testing. The associations were robust in sensitivity analyses and external validation using an independent cohort from a disparate geographical region using a different wearable device. Moreover, we illustrated a heterogeneous impact of circadian parameters associated with biological aging, with young (<45 years) and fast agers experiencing a substantially delayed acrophase with a 25-minute difference in peak timing compared to slow agers, diminishing to a 7-minute difference in older adults (>65 years). We demonstrated a significant enhancement in the predictive performance when integrating circadian rhythmicity in the estimation of biological aging over physical activity. Our findings underscore CosinorAge’s potential as a scalable, economic, and digital solution for promoting healthy longevity, elucidating the critical and multifaceted circadian rhythmicity in aging processes. Consequently, our research contributes to advancing preventive measures in digital medicine.

#2502 The CONVINCE randomized trial found positive effects of hemodiafiltration on quality of life in patients with kidney disease on dialysis

Abstract Background and Aims Health-related quality of life of ESKD patients is negatively affected by disease-specific symptoms and can additionally be impaired by renal replacement therapy. Previous studies indicate that hemodiafiltration (HDF) may have a positive impact on the patients’ perceived health status compared to hemodialysis (HD), but overall evidence has been inconclusive. We investigated whether HDF is beneficial with respect to the patients’ perceived health status in the CONVINCE Trial. Method The CONVINCE Trial is an international multi-center, prospective, randomized, open label, controlled trial, comparing benefits and safety high-dose HDF versus high-flux HD. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome of the trial and a broad range of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) were investigated as secondary outcomes. Eight generic health domains (Physical Function, Pain Intensity, Pain Interference, Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Anxiety, Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities) were assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System, PROMIS®-29 v2.0 profile, and an additional PROMIS short-form assessing Cognitive Function. PROs were collected every three months over the course of the study. As the perceived health status is likely related to mortality, we estimated the effect of HDF on PROs using a joint modelling approach to account for potential bias by selective dropout due to death. Results A total of n = 1 360 patients have been randomized to HD (n = 677) and HDF (n = 683). Both groups were comparable at baseline, with physical function (44.0 on the PROMIS T-score metric) considerably lower than the general population. Median follow-up was 30 months. We could obtain 84% of the planned PRO follow-up assessments on average. Overall, we found a steady decline in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) over the observation period; with statistically significant group differences for Physical Function (P = .047), Cognitive Function (P = .049), Pain Interference (P = .027) and the Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (P = .023), all favouring HDF over HD. Conclusion Within the CONVINCE trial we have applied a comprehensive assessment of PROs comparing HDF with HD. Along with a beneficial effect on survival rates, we observed a slower decline in patients perceived health status when treated with HDF compared to HD. CONVINCE provides further evidence that HDF is beneficial in terms of quality of life.

WORKING CAPACITY FOR PERSONS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent globally and result in substantial personal distress and significant social expenses for businesses and society. The ageing population and labor shortages exacerbate these effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of MDS on employment absenteeism and presenteeism. Two instruments, the EQ-5D and the iPCQ, were used to quantitatively survey the Latvian population. 949 respondents of working age were surveyed. From this group, 553 respondents with MSD were selected, averaging 47 years old, 50.6% of whom were men. The results showed that 7.23% experienced absenteeism in the last month. Additionally, 45.9% reported discomfort at work due to MSDs. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire revealed a decline in health-related quality of life with increasing age, highlighting the significance of addressing the aging workforce and promoting health preservation. 38.3% of respondents with MSDs received rehabilitation interventions, which showed a moderate association with health-related quality of life. The study showed that there is a negative correlation between health-related quality of life and productivity loss. This highlights the importance of comprehensive interventions that address both the physical and psychological aspects of MSDs. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, employers, and healthcare professionals to design targeted interventions that improve the health and productivity of individuals with MSDs.

Coding of Childhood Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Electronic Health Records of a Large Integrated Health Care System: Validation Study.

Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders are chronic pediatric conditions, and their prevalence has been on the rise over recent decades. Affected children have long-term health sequelae and a decline in health-related quality of life. Due to the lack of a validated database for pharmacoepidemiological research on selected mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, there is uncertainty in their reported prevalence in the literature. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of coding related to pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in a large integrated health care system's electronic health records (EHRs) and compare the coding quality before and after the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding as well as before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical records of 1200 member children aged 2-17 years with at least 1 clinical visit before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2014, the ICD-9-CM coding period; and January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, the ICD-10-CM coding period) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022) were selected with stratified random sampling from EHRs for chart review. Two trained research associates reviewed the EHRs for all potential cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depression disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder (AD), and disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) in children during the study period. Children were considered cases only if there was a mention of any one of the conditions (yes for diagnosis) in the electronic chart during the corresponding time period. The validity of diagnosis codes was evaluated by directly comparing them with the gold standard of chart abstraction using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, the summary statistics of the F-score, and Youden J statistic. κ statistic for interrater reliability among the 2 abstractors was calculated. The overall agreement between the identification of mental, behavioral, and emotional conditions using diagnosis codes compared to medical record abstraction was strong and similar across the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM coding periods as well as during the prepandemic and pandemic time periods. The performance of AD coding, while strong, was relatively lower compared to the other conditions. The weighted sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for each of the 5 conditions were as follows: 100%, 100%, 99.2%, and 100%, respectively, for ASD; 100%, 99.9%, 99.2%, and 100%, respectively, for ADHD; 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively for DBD; 87.7%, 100%, 100%, and 99.2%, respectively, for AD; and 100%, 100%, 99.2%, and 100%, respectively, for MDD. The F-score and Youden J statistic ranged between 87.7% and 100%. The overall agreement between abstractors was almost perfect (κ=95%). Diagnostic codes are quite reliable for identifying selected childhood mental, behavioral, and emotional conditions. The findings remained similar during the pandemic and after the implementation of the ICD-10-CM coding in the EHR system.

Decline in Health-related Quality of Life among Ischemic Stroke Survivors Discharged from Inpatient Rehabilitation to Home

Decline in Health-related Quality of Life among Ischemic Stroke Survivors Discharged from Inpatient Rehabilitation to Home

The Hidden Toll of Psychological Distress in Australian Adults and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life Measured as Health State Utilities.

Psychological distress (PD) is a major health problem that affects all aspects of health-related quality of life including physical, mental and social health, leading to a substantial human and economic burden. Studies have revealed a concerning rise in the prevalence of PD and various mental health conditions among Australians, particularly in female individuals. There is a scarcity of studies that estimate health state utilities (HSUs), which reflect the overall health-related quality of life in individuals with PD. No such studies have been conducted in Australia thus far. We aimed to evaluate the age-specific, sex-specific and PD category-specific HSUs (disutilities) in Australian adults with PD to inform healthcare decision making in the management of PD. Data on age, sex, SF-36/SF6D responses, Kessler psychological distress (K10) scale scores and other characteristics of N = 15,139 participants (n = 8149 female individuals) aged >15 years were derived from the latest wave (21) of the nationally representative Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia survey. Participants were grouped into the severity categories of no (K10 score: 10-19), mild (K10: 20-24), moderate (K10: 25-29) and severe PD (K10: 30-50). Both crude and adjusted HSUs were calculated from participants' SF-36 profiles, considering potential confounders such as smoking, marital status, remoteness, education and income levels. The calculations were based on the SF-6D algorithm and aligned with Australian population norms. Additionally, the HSUs were stratified by age, sex and PD categories. Disutilities of PD, representing the mean difference between HSUs of people with PD and those without, were also calculated for each group. The average age of individuals was 46.130 years (46% male), and 31% experienced PD in the last 4 weeks. Overall, individuals with PD had significantly lower mean HSUs than those likely to be no PD, 0.637 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.636, 0.640) vs 0.776 (95% CI 0.775, 0.777) i.e. disutility: -0.139 [95% CI -0.139, -0.138]). Mean disutilities of -0.108 (95% CI -0.110, -0.104), -0.140 (95% CI -0.142, -0.138), and -0.188 (95% CI -0.190, -0.187) were observed for mild PD, moderate PD and severe PD, respectively. Disutilities of PD also differed by age and sex groups. For instance, female individuals had up to 0.049 points lower mean HSUs than male individuals across the three classifications of PD. There was a clear decline in health-related quality of life with increasing age, demonstrated by lower mean HSUs in older population age groups, that ranged from 0.818 (95% CI 0.817, 0.818) for the 15-24 years age group with no PD to 0.496 (95% CI 0.491, 0.500) for the 65+ years age group with severe PD). Across all ages and genders, respondents were more likely to report issues in certain dimensions, notably vitality, and these responses did not uniformly align with ageing. The burden of PD in Australia is substantial, with a significant impact on female individuals and older individuals. Implementing age-specific and sex-specific healthcare interventions to address PD among Australian adults may greatly alleviate this burden. The PD state-specific HSUs calculated in our study can serve as valuable inputs for future health economic evaluations of PD in Australia and similar populations.

The Impact of Osteoarthritis on the Quality of Life of the Patient in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability and a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Healthcare professionals should prioritize the optimal measurement of HRQoL in patients with OA. To examine and assess the influence of Osteoarthritis on patients&amp;#39; quality of life in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In this cross-sectional study, a cohort of 149 individuals diagnosed with Osteoarthritis was included. Data related to QoL was collected by using Mini-Osteoarthritis Knee and Hip Quality of Life (Mini-OAKHQOL) and Western Ontario &amp;amp;McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The Spearman rank correlation test was used to assess the correlation between assessments on different instruments used in osteoarthritis patients. The study involved participants with a mean age of 56.7 &amp;plusmn; 11.7 years. Most of the patients experienced extreme pain during prostrating in prayer time (45.6%), sitting (32.2%), and while doing heavy domestic duties (30.9%). The Cronbach alpha coefficients for Mini-OAKHQOL and WOMAC ranged from 0.83 to 0.89 and 0.85 to 0.96 respectively. Only a few demographic factors significantly and positively correlated with Mini-OAKHQoL. This study concludes that OA has a substantial impact on HRQoL. This study can benefit healthcare professionals and policymakers to develop specific interventions and public health initiatives to address the multifaceted nature of osteoarthritis and improve the lives of those affected.

Cognitive and emotional predictors of quality of life and functioning after COVID-19.

A long-term decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been reported after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Studies with people with persistent symptoms showed inconsistent outcomes. Cognition and emotion are important determinants in HRQoL, but few studies have examined their prognostic significance for HRQoL and functionality in post-COVID patients with persisting symptoms. We aimed to describe QoL, HRQoL, and functioning in individuals post-COVID with varying COVID-19 severities and to investigate the predictive value of cognitive and emotional variables for QoL, HRQoL, and functioning. In total, 492 participants (398 post-COVID and 124 healthy controls) underwent a neurobehavioral examination that included assessments of cognition, mood, QoL/HRQoL (WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D), and functioning (WHODAS-II). Analysis of covariance and linear regression models were used to study intergroup differences and the relationship between cognitive and emotional variables and QoL and functioning. The Physical and Psychological dimensions of WHOQoL, EQ-5D, and WHODAS Cognition, Mobility, Life Activities, and Participation dimensions were significantly lower in post-COVID groups compared with a control group. Regression models explaining 23.9%-53.9% of variance were obtained for the WHOQoL-BREF dimensions and EQ-5D, with depressive symptoms, post-COVID symptoms, employment status, income, and mental speed processing as main predictors. For the WHODAS, models explaining 17%-60.2% of the variance were obtained. Fatigue, depressive symptoms, mental speed processing, and post-COVID symptoms were the main predictors. QoL/HRQoL and functioning after COVID-19 in individuals with persistent symptoms were lower than in non-affected persons. Depressive symptoms, fatigue, and slower mental processing speed were predictors of lower QoL/HRQoL and functioning.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Induction Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Transplant-Eligible Multiple Myeloma Patients; A Scoping Review

Introduction Multiple myeloma is a hematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow, with an increasing incidence and mortality in the last decade. Eligibility for stem cell transplantation plays a crucial role in determining the approach to treatment, with transplant eligible patients undergoing triple induction therapy with an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and steroid. We aimed to review the recent data on the available treatment options for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) in transplant eligible patients. Methods A scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines utilizing the PubMed and Embase databases. The inclusion criteria was phase II or III clinical trials pertaining to the use of triple and quadruple therapy in NDMM patients, from the year 2010 onwards. A total of 2377 search results were screened, with 510 undergoing full-text screening against the inclusion criteria. Covidence was used to facilitate the screening process (Figure 1). Results Forty studies were included in the analysis. Eleven trials were based on Daratumumab induction. Additionally, two trials each utilized Isatuximab and Carfilzomib-based induction. One trial employed induction therapy containing Elotuzumab, and another utilized Cyclophosphamide. Addition of Daratumumab to the triplet regimen resulted in significant improvements in response rates and depth of responses. CASSIOPEIA trial demonstrated a notable improvement in minimal residual disease (MRD), with VTd treatment yielding 44% MRD, while Dara-VTd regimens achieved 64% MRD. Similarly, complete response (CR) rates increased from 26% to 39%, respectively. GRIFFIN trial revealed a remarkable 55% reduction in the risk of disease progression for patients with Dara-RVd . Moreover, the estimated 48-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 87.2% in the Dara-RVd group, compared to 70% in the RVd group. Notably, the median PFS was not reached in either treatment arm. The Lyra trial, which analyzed Dara-CyBorD followed by Dara maintenance, demonstrated a CR rate of 48.7% for transplant patients and 29.8% for non-transplant patients, respectively. Additionally, the MASTER trial revealed that Dara-KRd/autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) led to a high rate of MRD negativity, with 80% of patients achieving MRD negativity. The two-year PFS was 87%. Furthermore, the addition of Isatuximab and Carfilzomib to the treatment regimen demonstrated favorable outcomes in terms of MRD and PFS (Table 1). The addition of Elotuzumab did not lead to a significant improvement in outcomes. Moreover, caution is warranted when using Cyclophosphamide, given its less favorable safety profile and limited additional benefit in survival outcomes (MRD: 27% in +Cyclophosphamide arm vs. 35% without), including a temporary decline in health-related quality of life. Conclusion In conclusion, this scoping review underscores the significance of individualized treatment approaches for multiple myeloma based on clinical trial results. Each induction regimen has shown varying levels of efficacy and safety, offering clinicians flexibility to tailor treatments for different patient populations. The results from these trials will serve as valuable benchmarks and inform future research in the quest for improved therapies for NDMM patients.

Association between depression and pain, functional disability, disease activity and health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the effect of depression on pain, disease activity, functional disability and health-related quality of life measured by Visual Analogue Scale, Systemic Lupus...

QUALITY OF LIFE MEASUREMENTS FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is characterized by a persistent chronic otorrhoea from a perforated tympanic membrane and leads to many clinical presentations that include profuse mucopurulent, non-odorous discharge, deafness, tinnitus, depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. Such clinical manifestations cause a multidimensional decline in Health-related quality of life HR-QOL including (familial, social, psychological, physical, and functional). Methods: In the current study, we administered a prevalidated tool and assessed the quality of life measurements for 54 patients with CSOM in a Tertiary Care Centre from Kashmir a northern region of India. Results: The majority of subjects (~65%) were in the age group of 18-30 years. Males (57%) and rural inhabitants showed a slight predominance (~56% and 59%%). We found that individuals with CSOM present reduced HR-QOL measures. The majority of subjects reported that, ear symptoms were a cause of reduced quality of life in a sizable number of cases with CSOM. We also observed that CSOM affected the routine cleanliness schedules of the patients. Most of the subjects need therapeutic intervention for treating CSOM more than once in the last 6 months. Conclusion: Given the paucity of data in theeld more replicative studies are warranted to have a better understanding of the reduced HR-QOL of patients with CSOM and its use as an outcome measure for therapeutic interventions.

Health-related quality of life of the elderly after natural disasters: a scoping review

Every nation on earth is experiencing an increase in the number and proportion of elderly people. This vulnerable population may experience a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following a natural disaster. This scoping review aimed to have a better understanding on the elderly’s HRQOL following natural disasters, its influencing factors, and the state of the research on this topic. A literature search was conducted using four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and ProQuest) for the last 10 years (2013–2022). The summary of the selected relevant articles and analysis data were used to present the findings. There were seven articles included in our review. One article was about floodsand the rest was about earthquake.Two out of the six earthquake articles involved tsunamis. All of the studies were conducted during the recovery phase and revealed that the elderly had poor HRQOL after natural disasters. Several aspects, including demographics, physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors, were identified as having impacts on the elderly‘s HRQOL following a disaster. The relocation had a significant negative impact on the mental health of the elderly, with a mean difference of -3.69 (-5.60, -1.77). In conclusion, the HRQOL of the elderly after a natural disaster is low and affected by several factors. To improve it, a stronger research agenda and disaster management programs that take these factors into account are required.

Community pharmacists' measurement of health-related quality of life for breast cancer with positive hormone receptors: A prospective observational study.

Many patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer undergo prolonged treatment. However, the long-term patient quality of life assessment has not been examined. Using community pharmacists' assistance is one method for assessing long-term quality of life. Thus, this study aimed to understand the ongoing health-related quality of life and quality-adjusted life year among breast cancer patients so that community pharmacists may contribute to their pharmacotherapy. We conducted a prospective observational study with 22 breast cancer patients who had health-related quality of life at the initial measurement and 6 months later. Regarding the health-related quality of life, quality-adjusted life year concerning all patients was 0.890 (95% confidence interval: 0.846-0.935). Quality-adjusted life year concerning those younger than 65 years was 0.907 (95% confidence interval: 0.841-0.973), and that for individuals older than 65 years was 0.874 (95% confidence interval: 0.804-0.943). The adjuvant chemotherapy group had a lower health-related quality of life at the initial measurement (0.887; 95% confidence interval: 0.833-0.941) but showed a higher quality of life 6 months later (0.951; 95% confidence interval: 0894-1.010). Quality-adjusted life year for individuals regarding adjuvant chemotherapy was 0.919 (95% confidence interval: 0.874-0.964). In contrast, the life-prolonged group had a higher health-related quality of life at the initial measurement, which was lower 6 months later. As a result of measuring quality of life using the EuroQol 5-dimensions-5-levels, this study revealed a decline in health-related quality of life in patients undergoing hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The study is expected to assist community pharmacists in managing outpatients.

Decline in health-related quality of life and foot and ankle patient reported outcomes measures in patients with haemophilia and ankle haemarthropathy

BackgroundHaemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder characterised by bleeding within soft tissue and joints. The ankle is disproportionally affected by haemarthropathy when compared to the elbows and knees; reported as the most affected joints in patients with haemophilia. Despite advances in treatment, patients still report ongoing pain and disability, however, the impact has not been evaluated, nor has the effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) or foot and ankle patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The primary aim of this study was to establish the impact of ankle haemarthropathy in patients with severe and moderate haemophilia A and B. Secondly to identify the clinical outcomes associated with a decline in HRQoL and foot and ankle PROMs.MethodsA cross-sectional multi-centre questionnaire study was conducted across 18 haemophilia centres in England, Scotland and Wales with a recruitment target of 245 participants. The HAEMO-QoL-A and Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) (foot and ankle) with total and domain scores measured impact on HRQOL and foot and ankle outcomes. Demographics, clinical characteristics, ankle haemophilia joint health scores, multi-joint haemarthropathy and Numerical Pain Rating Scales (NPRS) of “ankle pain over the past six months” were collected as a measure of chronic ankle pain.ResultsA total of 243 of 250 participants provided complete data. HAEMO-QoL-A and MOXFQ (foot and ankle) total and index scores indicated worse HRQoL with total scores ranging from a mean of 35.3 to 35.8 (100 best-health) and 50.5 to 45.8 (0 best-health) respectively. NPRS (mean (SD)) ranged from 5.0 (2.6) to 5.5 (2.5), with median (IQR) ankle haemophilia joint health score of 4.5 (1 to 12.5) to 6.0 (3.0 to 10.0) indicating moderate to severe levels of ankle haemarthropathy. Ankle NPRS over six months and inhibitor status were associated with decline in outcome.ConclusionsHRQoL and foot and ankle PROMs were poor in participants with moderate to severe levels of ankle haemarthropathy. Pain was a major driver for decline in HRQoL and foot and ankle PROMs and use of NPRS has the potential to predict worsening HRQoL and PROMs at the ankle and other affected joints.

Impact of Chronic Soft Tissue Wounds on Psycho-Emotional Background and Quality of Life of Patients: Social Context

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a growing interest of clinicians in assessing the quality of life associated with the health of patients with chronic wounds, which is due to the need for an objective dynamic assessment of the patient's psycho-emotional state and the effectiveness of the therapy; on its basis strategic decisions can be made aimed at improving not only the results of treatment but also the quality of life, social functioning of patients (social adaptation).The aim of the study was to review research that investigates the impact of chronic soft tissue wounds on changes in the quality of life associated with the health of patients, in order to systematize a massive amount of information for use in everyday clinical practice, seeking to understand the personal needs of each patient in the context of his life.Material and methods. The authors performed a search for relevant papers in the electronic databases PubMed, Cyberleninka; this was followed by an analysis of the data obtained regarding the impact of chronic wounds on the psycho-emotional background of patients.Conclusions. The data obtained, their critical evaluation and analysis of scientific publications related to the subject of the study evidence that a dynamic assessment of the psycho-emotional state of patients with chronic soft tissue wounds is necessary in wide clinical practice in order to timely identify and prevent the development of psycho-emotional disorders, leading to a decline in health-related quality of life.

Effect of Weight Regain on Body Composition and Metabolic Biomarkers After Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Cross-Sectional Study from a Hospital Database

IntroductionWeight regain (WR) is described in approximately 30% of patient’s post-bariatric surgery. It is related to the progression or recurrence of associated medical problems and decline in health-related quality of life. This study aimed to test the return of body composition and metabolic biomarkers to pre-operative levels when WR occurs.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study conducted in 2021, patients were randomly selected from the hospital’s electronic databases between 2001 and 2020. Patient demographic data, comorbidities, body compositions, and metabolic biomarkers were collected. Three groups were defined: groups A (WR), B (weight loss), and C (control group; patients with obesity who had not yet undergone bariatric surgery).ResultsA total of 88 patients were enrolled in this study and matched with the control group. The body mass index in group A was 43.8 ± 6.9 kg/m2; group B was 28.6 ± 4.2; group C was 43.9 ± 7.1. Body muscle mass, body fat mass, and visceral fat significantly differed between groups A and B (p < 0.001) but not between groups A and C (p = 0.8). There was a significant difference in leptin, ghrelin, postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, and fibroblast growth factor-21 (but not retinol-binding protein-4) between groups A and B. Most metabolic biomarkers in group A returned to the pre-operative values as in group C.ConclusionWR had a direct negative effect on body composition and metabolic biomarkers, whereby the values returned to pre-operative levels. Early detection of WR and possible additional therapy are necessary to prevent associated medical problems.Graphical

The predictive value of patient-reported outcomes on the impact of breast cancer treatment-related quality of life.

PurposePatient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been widely used to measure breast cancer (BC) treatment outcomes. However, evidence is still limited on using routinely PROs to personalize treatment decision-making, including or not chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy. Using patient baseline PRO scores, we aimed to use PROs before treatment initiation to predict improvement or decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to treatment that they receive.MethodsIn two French cancer sites, women with non-metastatic BC completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 and BREAST-Q questionnaires to assess their PROs at baseline and again at 6 months. The outcome measured was post-operative change in PROs with minimal important difference for QLQ-C30 domains. We performed multivariate ordinal logistic regression to estimate the incremental probability of post-operative PRO improvements and deteriorations depending upon treatment options and baseline HRQoL.ResultsOne hundred twenty-seven women completed questionnaires. Chemotherapy had significant negative impacts on Global health status (GHS) and on physical and social functioning. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy increased patient fatigue scores after adjusting for clinical factors (p< 0.01 and p< 0.05, respectively). The incremental probability of GHS deteriorations for chemotherapy was +0.3, +0.5, and +0.34 for patients with baseline GHS scores of 40, 70, and 100, respectively. This showed that different pre-treatment PROs might predict differential effects of chemotherapy on women change in HRQoL.ConclusionPatients with different baseline PRO scores may experience dissimilar impacts from BC treatments on post-operative PROs in terms of improvements and deteriorations. Oncologists might decide to adapt the treatment option based on a given level of the negative impact. Future studies should concentrate on incorporating this information into routine clinical decision-making strategies to optimize the treatment benefit for patients.

INFLUENCE OF CANCER NEWS ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENT'S FAMILIES: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Malignant disease diagnosis brings great psychological suffering to the patient, and the sickness might have catastrophic ramifications for the relatives. The Objective of this study is to assess influence of cancer news on quality of life of patient's families. This study was prospective cohort study conducted at the oncology department of a tertiary care Hospital, Pakistan for the duration of one year. The quality of life was assessed as per pre-defined questionnaire both from two first degree relatives at each clinical visit during treatment every week and every month for six months after completion of treatment. Data analysis was done by employing SPSS version 21. 180 family members were included. QOL of family members was 1.54±0.57 (p=0.001). Anxiety/depression score of the family members was 1.67±0.64 while in control group it was 1.50±0.64 (p=0.031). The EQ VAS score in control group was 66.5±16.7 whereas in caregivers group, it was 71.3±18.8 (P=0.023). Stress was observed in 98 (54.44%) participants in caregivers group. Moderate-severe depression was observed in 45(25%) vs 21(11.67%) participants in caregivers vs control group, respectively (p=0.041) Our findings reveal that family caregivers of cancer patients face mental health issues and a decline in health-related quality of life. To reduce the effect of caring on the mental health and health related quality of life of family caregivers in Pakistan, culturally suitable caregiver support programs are required.