Health-related Quality Of Life Scores Research Articles

Effect of Executive Function on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease.

As the highest function in the brain that regulates our daily activity, executive dysfunction might affect someone's health-related quality of life (HRQoL), especially in those with chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Neurocognitive functions, including intelligence quotient (IQ) and executive function can be affected through various mechanisms in CKD. However, there was still no specific study regarding how IQ and executive function might affect HRQoL in children with CKD. To assess Executive Function's impact on HRQoL and to find association between treatment modalities and CKD stages with HRQoL in children with CKD. A cross sectional study was conducted at Pediatric Nephrology Clinic at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia from September 2022 to April 2023. We included 38 children whose age range were 6-16 years 11 months old with CKD stage III - V. Assessment tools used were: BRIEF questionnaire for executive function; WISC III tool for IQ; PedsQLTM questionnaire generic module for HRQoL. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 26.0. Total number of samples was 38. Complete examinations were done on 30 patients. Eight other patients did not undergo the IQ test. There was a negative correlation between executive function components scores (GEC, BRI, MI) with HRQoL scores on parents' proxy in all domains. We found no correlation between HRQoL and IQ scores, but we found a correlation between IQ and CKD stage. There was a significant difference in HRQoL from the children's perspective among the three modalities; children who underwent conservative treatment were having the best HRQoL scores. Interventions to improve executive function of children with CKD should be done to improve their HRQoL in the future. Early diagnosis and treatment of CKD should be done at the earliest to improve neurocognitive function and HRQoL.

Body Dissatisfaction, Weight Status and Health-related Quality of Life in Adolescents

Background: Studies on the effect of weight on quality of life provide conflicting results. The purpose of the research was to assess the interconnection between the anthropometric variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a community-based sample of schoolchildren and to establish the role of body dissatisfaction (BD) in this association. Methods: A number of tenth-year schoolchildren ( n = 413) completed a questionnaire making it possible to describe their sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and assess body satisfaction and HRQoL (PedsQL 4.0, France). The hypothesis of BD as reflecting the relationship between anthropometric variables and HRQoL was tested using the logistic regression method. Results: No significant correlation was found between BMI and integral HRQoL scores. Waist circumference showed a significant negative correlation with the HRQoL scores in the girls, but not in the boys. The frequency of BD was 60.3% ( n = 249). The relationship between BD and anthropometric variables proved to be differently directed in the boys and the girls. BD had a significant negative correlation with psychosocial and total HRQoL scores in adolescents of both sexes and with the girls’ physical functioning scores. The relationship between HRQoL and anthropometric indices in the girls, after making adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioral variables and BD in multivariate models, was no longer significant. Conclusion: This study has shown that BD is widespread among adolescents and has a significant impact on HRQoL. The impact of actual weight status on girls’ quality of life is entirely mediated by their dissatisfaction with their own bodies, thus justifying the approach to BD as a stand-alone problem having important psychosocial implications and requiring active identification and targeted intervention.

Health-related quality of life and hypertension in people with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy in Uganda.

The presence of hypertension could reduce the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with HIV (PWH). Yet, literature describing the HRQoL of PWH who have hypertension in Uganda is scarce making the design of locally adapted interventions cumbersome. In our study, we compared HRQoL scores of people with HIV with and without hypertension on long term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda. We recruited 149 PWH with hypertension and 159 PWH without hypertension in the long-term ART cohort at an urban clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Data on socio-demographics were collected using an interviewer designed questionnaire while data on the World Health Organisation clinical stage viral load and CD4 count as well as ART duration were extracted from clinic electronic database and a generic EuroQol -5D- 5L (EQ-5D- 5L) and Medical Outcome Study (MOS-HIV) questionnaire used to collect HRQoL data. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics while inferential statistics were used to determine associations between key variables and HRQoL. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare HRQoL between groups of interest. One hundred ninety (61.7%) participants were female. PWH who had hypertension were older (Mean ± SD: 53.7 ± 8.3 vs 49.9 ± 8.6, p value <0.001) than those without hypertension. Participants with hypertension had lower overall median health utility scores (0.71 (0.33-0.80) vs 0.80 (0.44-0.80), p value = 0.029) and mean physical health score (48.44 ± 10.17 vs 51.44 ± 9.65, p value < 0.001) as opposed to those without hypertension. Hypertension (p value = 0.023), high income status, >70,000 UGX, (p value = 0.044), disclosure of the HIV status of the participants to their partner (p value = 0.026), and current history of smoking (p value = 0.029) were associated with low HRQoL scores. Among people with HIV, those with hypertension had lower HRQoL compared to those without. This calls for inclusion of quality-of-life assessment in the management of PWH who have been diagnosed with hypertension to identify those at risk and plan early interventions.

Exercise leads to better sleep in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of an exercise program on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission. A total of 42 pediatric IBD patients in remission were recruited to participate in a 6-month-long home-based exercise program. Their mean age was 15.3 years (with a range of ± 2.08 years) and there were 25 boys. With regard to disease type, 22 had Crohn's disease (CD), 18 had ulcerative colitis (UC), and two had unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (IBD-U). Prior to starting the program, and after its completion, HRQoL was assessed using the IMPACT III questionnaire, and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Patients also wore a triaxial accelerometer for 5 consecutive days before and after the completion of the exercise program to assess physical activity (PA) objectively. Study participants experienced no significant increase in their IMPACT III score (from 147.6 ± 2.7 to 149.6 ± 2.7, p = 0.106) following the completion of the exercise program. The prevalence of impaired sleep quality (PSQI > 5) decreased significantly from 30.9 to 23.8% (p = 0.027). At the baseline, participants' time spent in light PA (LPA) correlated positively with their IMPACT III score (coefficient (coef.) 0.398, p = 0.013). Following the completion of the resistance training program, the changes in the IMPACT III score correlated positively with time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (coef. 0.329, p = 0.047) and negatively with changes in PSQI score (coef. -0.493, p = 0.001). The number of children with impaired sleep quality decreased significantly following the completion of a 6-month-long home-based resistance training program but improvements in HRQoL scores did not reach statistical significance.

Effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression on quality of life in thyroid lobectomy patients: interim analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients (MASTER study).

Current clinical practices favor less or no thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression for low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients who receive thyroid lobectomy. The association of TSH suppression on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients after thyroid lobectomy is not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TSH suppression on patient HR-QoL after thyroid lobectomy. This study included patients enrolled in an ongoing, multicenter, randomized controlled study investigating the effects of TSH suppression. Patients were randomized to either the low-TSH group (TSH target range, 0.3-1.99 µIU/mL) or the high-TSH group (TSH target range, 2.0-7.99 µIU/mL). The HR-QoL, hyperthyroidism symptom, and depression symptom questionnaires performed preoperatively and 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively were evaluated. Total of 669 patients (low-TSH group, 340; high-TSH group, 329) were included. Although total HR-QoL score changes were not different between the 2 groups, the high-TSH group had a significantly higher score in the physical domain at postoperative 3 months (P = 0.046). The 2 groups did not have significant differences in hyperthyroidism and depression scores. In the short-term postoperative period, the physical HR-QoL scores in thyroid lobectomy patients were better when they did not receive TSH suppression. This study suggests the importance of considering HR-QoL when setting TSH suppression targets in thyroid lobectomy patients.

Quality of Life in Ugandan Children and Young Adults After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: Mixed Methods Approach.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a critical issue for patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) but has never been assessed in a low-income country. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed methods study with age-matched healthy siblings serving as controls at the Uganda Heart Institute. One-hundred fifteen CHD pediatric and young adult patients and sibling control participants were recruited. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 in participants ages 5-17 and 36-Item Short Form Survey for young adults aged 18-25. A subset of 27 participants completed face-to-face interviews to supplement quantitative findings. Eighty-six pediatric (age 5-17) sibling and parent pairs completed Peds QOL surveys, and 29 young adult (age 18-25) sibling pairs completed SF-36 surveys. One third of patients had surgery in Uganda. Ventricular septal defects and tetralogy of Fallot were the most common diagnoses. Health-related quality of life scores in patients were lower across all domains compared to control participants in children. Reductions in physical and emotional domains of HRQOL were also statistically significant for young adults. Variables associated with lower HRQOL score on multivariate analysis in pediatric patients were younger age in the physical and emotional domains, greater number of surgeries in the physical domain and surgery outside Uganda in the school domain. The only predictor of lower HRQOL score in young adults was surgery outside Uganda in the social domain. Qualitative interviews identified a number of themes that correlated with survey results including abandonment by family, isolation from peers and community, financial hardship and social stigmatization. Health-related quality of life was lower in Ugandan patients after CHD surgery than siblings. Younger patients and those who had surgery outside of Uganda had lower HRQOL. These data have important implications for patients undergoing CHD surgery in LMIC and have potential to inform interventions.

Comorbidity of migraine and fibromyalgia in patients with cluster headache: psychological burden and healthcare resource utilization. A cross-sectional study

The aim was to describe the comorbidity and impact of fibromyalgia and/or migraine on patients with cluster headache. Comorbid diseases can exacerbate the physical and psychological burden experienced by patients. The comorbidities of cluster headache have been scarcely investigated, with the exception of migraine, which is well-known to coexist with cluster headache. In contrast, the comorbidity of migraine and fibromyalgia has been well investigated and firmly established. An internet survey was uploaded to the webpage of a cluster headache patient association. The survey collected sociodemographic and clinical data, and patients completed questionnaires that assessed depression, sleep quality, health-related quality of life, and health care resource utilization (HCRU) over the preceding six months. Differences in total depression, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life scores among the groups were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test, and differences in HCRU were analyzed with the chi-square test. Ninety-one patients with cluster headache participated in the survey; 39 (42.9%) experienced only cluster headache, 15 (16.5%) experienced cluster headache and migraine, 10 (11%) experienced cluster headache and fibromyalgia, and 27 (29.7%) experienced cluster headache with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine. Moderate depression scores and positive suicidal ideation were found across all subgroups. Sleep quality and health-related quality of life were consistently poor across the different subgroups, with the cluster headache with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine subgroup showing significantly lower scores. Heavy use of health care resources was observed across all subgroups, with no notable differences among them. The comorbidity of cluster headache with fibromyalgia and/or migraine does not seem to be infrequent. This comorbidity substantially increases the psychosocial burden experienced by patients and decreases their overall quality of life.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients at University of Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia.

Living with heart failure poses challenges due to its poor prognosis and impact on quality of life, making it crucial to assess how it affects patients for better patient-centered management. This study aimed to assess quality of life and associated factors in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Ethiopia, 2023. An "institution-based" cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialised Hospital. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic characteristics were included in the questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis (p < 0.05) was used to measure the degree of association between quality of life and independent variables. A total of 240 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction participated in the study. The health-related quality of life scores for the physical, emotional, and total were 17.60 ± 10.33, 10.58 ± 6.33 and 46.12 ± 26.06, respectively. Health-related quality of life was significantly associated with age, marital status, occupation, income, heart failure duration, recent hospitalization, New York Heart Association functional class, heart failure etiology, atrial fibrillation comorbidity, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, heart failure medications, severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and severe or moderate pulmonary hypertension. This study found that patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction had poor health-related quality of life, influenced by identified factors. These findings aid professionals in assessing and identifying interventions that improve these patients' quality of life.

Kiosk 2R-TA-07 - Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Echocardiography Parameters for Prediction of Health-related Quality of Life Scores in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Kiosk 2R-TA-07 - Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Echocardiography Parameters for Prediction of Health-related Quality of Life Scores in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Haemodialysis Patients in Khartoum, Sudan

Much research has been conducted in many countries on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of haemodialysis patients, but few have been conducted in Khartoum, Sudan. All studies have shown that patients’ Quality of Life regarding the dimensions of physical, psychological, social, and environmental was affected by the disease. Previous research ignored the impact of religious beliefs on haemodialysis patients. We used the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (the English standard version) to collect data from 181 participating patients. Religious beliefs had a significant impact on the overall outcome of the study, and strong social relationships among the Sudanese population (which distinguishes the Sudanese population from other nations) increased the patients’ satisfaction rate with their social relationships. The lack of transport facilities from the patients’ homes to the dialysis center (and vice versa) forced the patients to reduce the number of prescribed sessions. Background: In recent decades, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) endpoints have proven to be valuable research tools for evaluating the outcomes of therapeutic interventions in chronic diseases. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is one such chronic disease that leads to a high degree of disability in various aspects of the patient’s life and impairs their quality of life. Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to assess the QoL in haemodialysis patients concerning their physical, psychological, social, and environmental health dimensions, and to assess the effects of age, sex, income, and level of education, in addition, to identify modifiable factors in Khartoum Sudan, associated with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among chronic haemodialysis patients. Instrument and Material: A sample of 181 patients was recruited for this study. To collect the data we used the WHOQOL-BREF (the English standard version), a generic health-related questionnaire developed by the WHOQOL group and available in 19 different languagesThe English standard version was recommended by Mrs Sibel Volcan (WHOQOL representative) because it is best suited to Sudan. Scoring and Validation of WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire: A detailed step-by-step guide to using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was clearly explained to me in a separate document by the WHOQOL representative. Results: Religious beliefs have a significant impact on the overall outcome of the study. No correlation was found between patients’ age, gender, and quality of life. Physical pain prevented 63.5% of the participating patients from doing what they needed to do, 49.2% of the haemodialysis patients had the energy to carry out their daily activities, 71.8 were satisfied with their sleep, 34.3% often had a negative feeling, 83% were satisfied with their sex life, 2.8% do not have a physically healthy environment, 43.3% were dissatisfied with the condition of their living spaces, the transportation was a nightmare for the majority of patients, 84.5% were satisfied with their social relationships and the support they receive from people around them, and .6% of patients have no way at all to meet their daily needs. Discussion: Physical pain prevented 63.5% of patients from doing what they needed to do to some extent, 40.9% were dependent on medical treatments to perform their daily activities, more than half of haemodialysis patients can get around, the lack of important information harms patients and transportation is a nightmare for the majority of participating haemodialysis patients. Conclusion: Inadequate distribution of dialysis centers in Sudan, lack of stable transportation from patients’ homes to dialysis centers (and vice versa), and insufficient information on how to deal with the disease were significantly associated with lower scores for all general and several kidney disease-related HRQoL scores. Key words: HRQOL, Haemodialysis, Sudan

Sex differences in the impact of musculoskeletal disorders on health-related quality of life: a population-based study, Campinas, SP - ISACamp 2014/15.

This article aims to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MD) on the adult population of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, verifying associated demographic and socioeconomic factors, and to analyze their impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) according to sex. A population-based study was conducted with 2,166 individuals using data from the ISACamp 2014/15. The Medical Outcomes Study SF-36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to measure HRQoL according to MD. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated by Poisson regression. Musculoskeletal disorders had a prevalence of 8.5% (6.7% tendonitis and 2.7% work-related musculoskeletal disorders - WMSD). Results showed a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in women, active or on leave due to illness, and in individuals with higher education levels. Moreover, reduced HRQoL scores were observed in 6 of the 8 domains, due to MD. The mental component and physical component showed greater impairment respectively among women and men after self-reported WMSD. These findings point to substantial damage from musculoskeletal disorders on the population's HRQoL. WMSD affect the HRQoL of men and women distinctly.

Risk assessment and real-world outcomes in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: insights from a UK pulmonary hypertension referral service

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to evaluate the ability of risk assessment to predict healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU), costs, treatments, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and survival in patients diagnosed with...

Exploring the Interplay of Diabetes, Deaf Patient Reported Outcomes, and Cancer Screening in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women.

Some deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals face health information barriers, increasing their risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and subsequent cancer development. This study examines if health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and deaf patient-reported outcomes (DHH-QoL) mediate the relationship between DM diagnosis and cancer screening adherence among DHH individuals. In a cross-sectional study, US DHH adults assigned female at birth answered questions on cervical and breast cancer screenings from the ASL-English bilingual Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-ASL) and the PROMIS (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) Deaf Profile measure's Communication Health and Global Health domains. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from multivariable logistic and linear regression models, examining the association between DM, DHH-QoL, and cancer screening adherence, adjusting for other covariates and HRQoL. A Baron and Kenny causal mediation analysis was used. A two-sided p < 0.05 indicated significance. Most respondents were White (66.4%), heterosexual (66.2%), did not have DM (83.9%), had health insurance (95.5%), and adhered to pap smears (75.7%) and mammograms (76.9%). The average (standard deviation) DHH-QoL score was 50.9 (8.6). Those with DM had lower HRQoL scores (46.2 (9.5) vs 50.2 (8.8); p < 0.0001) than those without. Non-significant multivariable models indicate that those with DM were more adherent to pap testing (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.72, 3.03; p = 0.285) and mammograms (2.18; 95% CI: 0.81, 5.88; p = 0.122), with DHH-QoL scores slightly increasing them to 1.53 (0.74, 3.16; p = 0.250) for pap testing and 2.55 (0.91, 7.13; p = 0.076) for mammograms. DHH-QoL was significantly associated with mammograms (p = 0.027), with 6% increased adherence per unit increase in the score. Overall, HRQoL and DHH-QoL were not significant mediators. While HRQoL/DHH-QoL in DHH individuals with DM does not mediate cancer screening adherence, higher DHH-QoL scores are associated with it. DHH-focused health literacy and communication training can improve cancer-related outcomes.

Effects of Radio-Taiso on Health-related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Frailty: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Radio-Taiso, a long-standing exercise program in Japan, could be a sustainable public health strategy for maintaining quality of life (QoL) in older adults with frailty. This study aimed to investigate whether Radio-Taiso provided greater benefits for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to identify the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness in this population. A 12-week randomized controlled trial enrolled 226 older Japanese adults with pre-frailty or frailty, assessed using the modified frailty phenotype. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (Radio-Taiso + nutrition program) or control (nutrition program) groups. The Radio-Taiso program comprised five 60-min group sessions and daily practice at the participants' homes. The primary outcome was the change in the mental domain of HRQoL, assessed using the SF-36®. The secondary outcomes included six physical fitness items and exercise self-efficacy. Overall, 104 and 105 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively, were analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle. The median daily practice rate of Radio-Taiso was 94.1% (interquartile range, 73.2-98.8%). Although general linear models adjusted for baseline values and allocation stratification factors showed that the intervention group obtained greater benefits (adjusted mean differences) in the up-and-go (0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1 to 0.6 s), 2-min step-in-place (-3.2; 95% CI, -6.2 to -0.2 steps) tests, and exercise self-efficacy scale (-1.4; 95% CI, -2.6 to -0.1 points) than the control group, there were no group differences in changes in the mental domain score of HRQoL. Radio-Taiso provided greater benefits for agility/dynamic balance, aerobic endurance, and exercise self-efficacy in older adults with frailty; however, these changes do not improve HRQoL.

Health related quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis: its determination and correlation with relevant factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with Cirrhosis of the liver using a short form of liver disease quality of life (SF-LDQOL) instrument, also to correlate HRQOL scores with relevant factors. METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study carried out in the medical department of Civil Hospital Karachi from May 2021 to April 2022. One hundred ninety-seven confirmed cases of Cirrhosis from either gender over 18 years of age without malignancy, HIV infection, or Psychiatric/Neurological diseases were enrolled using convenient sampling. The SF-LDQOL instrument assessed HRQOL, summarizing overall disease-targeted HRQOL (0 to 100), where a higher score shows good HRQOL or otherwise. HRQOL was correlated with various sociodemographic factors and the severity of liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: Using SPSS version 23, the SF-LDQOL score was 44±7.3. The severity of liver cirrhosis by (Child Turcotte Pugh) CTP-A correlated weakly (-0.1294), while CTP B and CTP C strongly correlated with SF-LDQOL scores (-0.9894 and -0.9912), respectively. The p-value for CTP A (0.705) is insignificant; however, for CTP B and C (p &lt; 0.00001 &amp; p &lt; 0.00001) is significant. Demographically, the age and income status correlated strongly to SF-LDQOL scores, displaying considerable p-values (p &lt;0.00001 and p &lt; 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Most patients had compromised HRQOL as assessed by well-validated and more disease-specific tool SF-LDQOL score. HRQOL correlated positively with the severity of Cirrhosis by applying CTP and Model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring. Sociodemographic parameters of age and income status also correlated well with HRQOL. KEYWORDS: Cirrhosis of the liver, Child Turcotte Pugh, Model of end-stage liver disease, Health-related quality of life.

Does the Response to a Stressful Condition in Older Adults with Life Rhythm Dysregulations Provide Evidence of the Existence of the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome"?

The COVID-19 lockdown periods have given rise to the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS). This syndrome is characterized by a poor regulation of biological, social, and behavioral rhythms, including sleep, nutrition, and social contacts. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine whether older adults with pre-existing DYMERS had a more negative perception of their health-related quality of life (H-QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, regardless of the presence of concurrent mood disorders. The entire study population (N = 93; age > 65 year) was categorized based on whether they exhibited dysregulated rhythms at the outset of the study. A comparison was made between DYMERS-positive individuals and DYMERS-negative individuals, and we assessed their H-QoL at the conclusion of the study. We also compared the H-QoL of individuals in the cohort who did not have a positive depression score to understand the impact of the rhythm dysregulation alone. The frequency of individuals with a critical health-related quality of life score (SF12 < 25) was higher in the cohort with pre-existing DYMERS during lockdown (33.33% vs. 6.17%). This difference remained significant even when only individuals without depressive symptomatology were considered (27.27% vs. 2.60%). The results of this study indicate that DYMERS can exert a substantial influence on health-related quality of life (H-QoL), even when mood disturbances are not present. Additional research is required to investigate the relationship between DYMERS and other psychiatric conditions as well as its nature as a standalone disorder.

Evaluation of the health-related quality of life in dogs following intracranial meningioma resection using a specifically developed questionnaire.

As advanced treatments are becoming increasingly feasible in veterinary medicine, the evaluation of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of treated animals is becoming more relevant. We evaluated owner-perceived HRQOL of 10 dogs that underwent craniotomy for meningioma resection between 2002 and 2022 at our institution through telephone interview. For this purpose, we developed a disease-specific questionnaire containing 52 items (mostly of scoring nature) patterned after previously validated instruments and organised into eight domains. Approval by the Human Ethical Committee and respondents' consent were obtained. We analysed the scores for all domains and dogs. The effect of different variables on the HRQOL score was determined via log-rank test and Pearson correlation. Scores for all included dogs (range, 0-235 points) were totaled, with a higher number of points indicating a better HRQOL. The dogs included in this study yielded a mean score of 200.6 points (range, 176-227 points), implying a good overall quality of life. There were no significant associations between individual parameters and outcomes. Our questionnaire represents a structured tool for the specific evaluation of postoperative HRQOL in dogs with meningioma, placing a minimal burden on respondents. Few instruments have been developed to assess animal welfare in a disease-specific context. Implementing these tools, however, is essential to accurately evaluate not only the impact of treatments on biologic parameters, but also their implications on patient welfare. Thus, treatment plans may consider HRQOL for a more comprehensive clinical decision-making process.

Enhanced External Counterpulsation for Management of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Associated Microvascular Angina and Fatigue: An Interventional Pilot Study.

Postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a novel clinical syndrome characterized in part by endothelial dysfunction. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) produces pulsatile shear stress, which has been associated with improvements in systemic endothelial function. To explore the effects of EECP on symptom burden, physical capacity, mental health, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with PASC-associated angina and microvascular dysfunction (MVD). An interventional pilot study was performed, including 10 patients (male = 5, mean age 50.3 years) recruited from a tertiary specialized PASC clinic. Patients with angina and MVD, defined as index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) ≥25 and/or diagnosed through stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, were included. Patients underwent one modified EECP course (15 one-hour sessions over five weeks). Symptom burden, six-minute walk test, and validated generic self-reported instruments for measuring psychological distress and HRQoL were assessed before and one month after treatment. At baseline, most commonly reported PASC symptoms were angina (100%), fatigue (80%), and dyspnea (80%). Other symptoms included palpitations (50%), concentration impairment (50%), muscle pain (30%), and brain fog (30%). Mean IMR was 63.6. After EECP, 6MWD increased (mean 29.5 m, median 21 m) and angina and fatigue improved. Mean depression scores showed reduced symptoms (-0.8). Mean HRQoL scores improved in seven out of eight subscales (+0.2 to 10.5). Patients with PASC-associated angina and evidence of MVD experienced subjective and objective benefits from EECP. The treatment was well-tolerated. These findings warrant controlled studies in a larger cohort.

Gender and Sex Differences in Health-related Quality of Life, Clinical Outcomes and Survival after Treatment of Metastatic Spine Disease.

Retrospective review of prospective, multicenter and international cohort study. To describe the effect of gender on HRQoL, clinical outcomes and survival for patients with spinal metastases treated with either surgery and/or radiation. Gender differences in health-related outcomes are demonstrated in numerous studies, with women experiencing worse outcomes and receiving lower standards of care than men, however, the influence that gender has on low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and clinical outcomes after spine surgery remains unclear. Patient demographic data, overall survival, treatment details, perioperative complications, and HRQoL measures including EQ-5D, pain NRS, the short form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ2.0) were reviewed. Patients were stratified by sex, and a separate sensitivity analysis that excluded gender-specific cancers (i.e., breast, prostate, etc.) was performed. The study cohort included 207 female and 183 male patients, with age, smoking status, and site of primary cancer being significantly different between the two cohorts (P<0.001). Both males and females experienced significantly improved SOSGOQ2.0, EQ-5D, and pain NRS scores at all study time points from baseline (P<0.001). Upon sensitivity analysis, (gender-specific cancers removed from analysis), the significant improvement in SOSGOQ physical, mental, and social subdomains and on SF-36 domains disappeared for females. Males experienced higher rates of postoperative complications. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of both the overall and sensitivity analysis cohorts showed females lived longer than males after treatment (P=0.001 and 0.043, respectively). Both males and females experienced significantly improved HRQoL scores after treatment, but females demonstrated longer survival and a lower complication rate. This study suggests that gender may be a prognostic factor in survival and clinical outcomes for patients undergoing treatment for spine metastases and should be taken into consideration when counseling patients accordingly.

Impact of Counseling on Patient Education and Dietary in Quality of Lifestyle and Nutritional Anemia in Diabetes Mellitus Patient: A Case-Control Study

The study’s goal was to see how w education and dietary guidance improved the quality of lifestyle and nutritional anemia in people with diabetes type 2. This 6 month prospective study was conducted in a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The demographic information (age, gender, social position, and economic status) was gathered using a form HRQoL after gaining the patient’s assent. In the intervention group n is 21 and also in the control group n is 21 so the total; patient was chosen 42. The baseline Hb and health-related quality score were taken in consideration in 1, 2 and baseline visits in a month-long study as a part of the design. Each visit concluded with the measurement of the hemoglobin level and health-related quality of life scores for both the intervention and control groups. The intervention group’s Hblevel changed significantly more than the control group’s after the nutrition education intervention finished [0.56–0.40 vs. 0.16–0.82 gm/dl, p = 0.002]. In contrast to the control group, where the mean increase in general health from baseline to second follow-up was statistically insignificant, the intervention group’s mean increase in general health from baseline to second follow-up was found to be significant as from the result obtained. Thus, nutrition education was found to be substantially linked to higher Hb levels, better dietary consumption, and improved health-related quality.mmune inflammatory illness distinguished by inflammation of hands, knees, wrists, and feet, causing bone and cartilage degradation, joint deformity, and muscle atrophy and thus movement limitations. Inflammatory mediators like necrosis factor and interleukins along with other inflammatory cytokines, execute a vital role in the initiation and advancement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as muscle atrophy. Existing literature discusses extensively the RA condition. However, the muscle atrophy related to this condition has received little attention, despite the substantial role of muscle atrophy in morbidity caused by RA. The review aims to highlight the relationship between muscle atrophy and RA, the mechanisms of muscle atrophy in RA and the association between oxidative stress and muscle atrophy in RA. This review will be useful for getting insights into the etiopathogenesis of muscle atrophy brought on by rheumatoid arthritis and available treatment alternatives for RA and muscle atrophy caused by RA. Discussion on the potential therapeutic targets and agents to treat skeletal muscle atrophy will help advance the knowledge to improve the condition of muscle atrophy associated with RA.