Patients Physical Quality Of Life Research Articles

Effect of Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis on Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetes, Proteinuria, and Hypercholesterolemia

Introduction: Treating diabetic nephropathy with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis reduces proteinuria and improves prognosis. However, its impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) is unclear. This study evaluated the effect of LDL apheresis on QoL in patients with diabetes, proteinuria, and hypercholesterolemia. Methods: In this nationwide multicenter prospective study, we enrolled 40 patients with diabetes. Inclusion criteria were proteinuria (defined as an albumin/creatinine ratio ≥3 g/g), serum creatinine levels <2 mg/dL, and serum LDL ≥120 mg/dL despite drug treatment. LDL apheresis was performed 6–12 times within 12 weeks. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to analyze QoL. Results: The study enrolled 35 patients (27 men and 8 women; mean age 58.9 ± 11.9 years). A comparison of baseline SF-36 values with those at the end of the course of apheresis found an improvement in the mean physical component summary (37.9 ± 11.4 vs. 40.6 ± 10.5, p = 0.051) and a significant increase in the mean mental component summary (MCS) (49.4 ± 8.4 vs. 52.5 ± 10.9, p = 0.026). A multivariable linear regression analysis revealed a history of coronary heart disease negatively correlated with the MCS increase at the end of the course of apheresis (β coefficient −6.935, 95% confidence interval, 13.313 to−0.556, p = 0.034). Conclusion: Our results suggest that LDL apheresis may improve the mental and physical QoL in patients with diabetes, proteinuria, and hypercholesterolemia.

Obesity and myosteatosis: the two characteristics of dynapenia in patients with cirrhosis.

In patients with liver cirrhosis, the clinical characteristics of dynapenia, a condition in which skeletal muscle mass is maintained but muscle strength is reduced, are not yet known. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of dynapenia and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients with liver cirrhosis. We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients with cirrhosis. Based on grip strength and skeletal muscle mass measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method, patients were divided into four groups: normal muscle status, dynapenia, pre-sarcopenia (a condition involving only low muscle mass), and sarcopenia. The characteristics of dynapenia and its influence on QOL were examined. Fourteen patients had dynapenia. Liver function did not differ among the four groups. In patients with dynapenia, BMI was highest and computed tomography attenuation of skeletal muscle at the third lumbar spine vertebra was lowest among the four groups. The percentage of patients with both BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and myosteatosis was significantly higher in patients with dynapenia [9/14 (64.3%)] than in those with sarcopenia [2/23 (8.7%), P = 0.004] and pre-sarcopenia [0/18 (0%), P < 0.001] and tended to be higher than those with normal muscle status [16/61 (26.2%), P = 0.065]. The physical QOL in patients with dynapenia was as low as that in those with sarcopenia and significantly lower than that in those with normal muscle status. Cirrhotic patients with dynapenia had high BMI and myosteatosis, and impaired physical QOL.

The impact of cumulative toxicity on physical quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving first line chemotherapy.

3564 Background: We have previously suggested that treatment related toxicity has impact on physical quality of life (QOL) scores, as opposed to global QOL. Moreover, the cumulative effect of experienced toxicities, including low-grades AEs, may be of more importance. The purpose of this observational cohort study was to evaluate the association between cumulative toxicity and physical and global QOL in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receiving chemotherapy. Methods: 105 patients with mCRC starting first line chemotherapy were evaluated. All patients completed the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire at baseline and after 10 weeks. Toxicity, clinical outcomes and demographics were retrieved from patient records. For each patient, we calculated cumulative toxicity in three different ways: i) total number of adverse events (AEs) (all grades), ii) total number of grade 3-4 AEs, and iii) total number of AEs multiplied by their grade. The relation between each cumulative toxicity score and QOL assessed at 10 weeks, was studied. Results: The mean age of patients was 64.8 ± 9.7 years, 70.5% were male, and 83.8% received first line oxaliplatin based combination chemotherapy. AEs occurred in 98.1% of patients, grade 3-4 AEs in 37.1%, and grade 1-2 AEs in 61.0%. The mean number of experienced AEs (all grades) was 5.3 ± 2.7. The most common toxicities included diarrhea, neuropathy and fatigue. None of the toxicity scores was related to global QOL outcome. A higher total number of all grades AEs (β = - 2.2, 95%CI = -3.7; -6.6) and total number of AEs multiplied by grade (β = -1.3, 95%CI = -2.2; -3.5) were significantly associated with worse physical QOL. Conclusions: Cumulative toxicity, defined as the total of all grades AEs, significantly affects physical QOL in patients with mCRC receiving first line chemotherapy. Improvement of treatment related toxicity management by reducing the total number of AEs, may result in relevant improvements in patients’ QOL. Our results emphasize that future RCTs should present physical QOL outcomes instead of global QOL, as well as all grades and total number of toxicities for individual patients.

Quality of life and clinical outcome after thyroid surgery in children: A 13 years single center experience

BackgroundGiven the low mortality of pediatric patients diagnosed with thyroid disease, quality of life (QoL) after thyroid surgery is very important. To organize the best possible patient care we analyzed our experience with respect to QoL and clinical outcome. MethodsThis is a single center, retrospective cohort study. Data of patients who underwent thyroid surgery <19years between January 2000 and December 2012 were collected. QoL was measured using the child health questionnaire child form (CHQ-CF87, <18years) and the World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-100, ≥18years). ResultsForty patients were included (mean age 13.7years; 29 females (72.5%)). Twenty-six patients underwent total thyroidectomy (including 7 repeat surgeries), 14 underwent hemithyroidectomy. QoL assessment in 26 patients revealed lower physical QoL in patients with a current age <18years (n=11) (p<.001), but higher overall and physical QoL in patients ≥18years (n=15) compared with controls (p=.01 and p=.036 respectively). Patients ≥18years, who underwent total thyroidectomy experienced lower overall and physical QoL compared with those who underwent hemithyroidectomy (p=.035 and p=.005 respectively). ConclusionsSurgery for thyroid disease during childhood significantly affects QoL. However, QoL seems to improve with increasing age, and hemi-thyroidectomy has less negative effects on QoL than total thyroidectomy.

Effects of Self-Care on Quality of Life in Adults With Heart Failure and Their Spousal Caregivers

Emotions are contagious in couples. The purpose of this study was to analyze the manner in which adults with chronic heart failure (HF) and their informal caregivers influence each other's self-care behavior and quality of life (QOL). A sample of 138 HF patients and spouses was enrolled from ambulatory centers across Italy. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to analyze dyadic data obtained with the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI), the Caregivers Contribution to the SCHFI, and the Short Form 12. Both actor and partner effects were found. Higher self-care was related to lower physical QOL in patients and caregivers. Higher self-care maintenance in patients was associated with better mental QOL in caregivers. In caregivers, confidence in the ability to support patients in self-care was associated with improved caregivers' mental QOL, but worsened physical QOL in patients. Interventions that build the caregivers' confidence are needed.

Efficacy of musculoskeletal injections by primary care providers in the office: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundMusculoskeletal joint pain of varied etiology can be diagnosed and treated with joint and soft-tissue corticosteroid injections.PurposeThe purpose of our study was to compare patients’ bodily pain and quality of life (QOL), in addition to the procedural benefit and patient satisfaction, before and after musculoskeletal injections in the office setting.Patients and methodsPatients were eligible for recruitment if they were over age 18 and had an injection for musculoskeletal pain from a primary care provider in an office procedural practice. Included in our analysis were knee joint/bursa, trochanteric bursa, and shoulder joint/bursa injection sites. The variables measured were pain, benefit from the injection, QOL physical and mental components, and patient satisfaction. This was a retrospective cohort study approved by the institutional review board.ResultsPatients’ pain was assessed by the patients using a six-point Likert scale (none, very mild, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe). We noted that self-perception of pain decreased from 3.10 (± standard deviation at baseline 0.96) before to 2.36 (± standard deviation after the infection 1.21) (P = 0.0001) after the injection. In terms of the impact on QOL, our patients had a pre-injection physical score of 37.25 ± 8.39 and a mental score at 52.81 ± 8.98. After the injections, the physical score improved to 42.35 ± 9.07 (P = 0.0001) and the mental to 53.54 ± 8.20 (P = 0.0001) for the overall group. Ninety-six percent of the patients reported they were satisfied or extremely satisfied in the procedure clinic.ConclusionIn this study, we found significant pain relief and improved physical QOL in patients undergoing an injection in the knee joint/bursa, shoulder joint/bursa, or trochanteric bursa by primary care providers in the office setting.

The effect of aortic valve replacement on quality of life in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis

Although symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis have a high disease burden and guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement, many are treated conservatively. This study describes to what extent quality of life is changed by aortic valve replacement relative to conservative treatment. This observational study followed 132 symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis who were subjected to an SF-36v2TM Health Survey. At baseline 84 patients were treated conservatively, 48 were referred for aortic valve replacement. In the conservatively treated group 15 patients died during a mean follow-up of 18months (Kaplan-Meier survival was 85% and 72% at one and 2years respectively) and 22 patients crossed over to the surgical group. Of the resulting 70 patients in the surgical group 3 patients died during a mean follow-up of 11months (survival 95% at 1year). Physical functioning, vitality and general health improved significantly 1year after aortic valve replacement. In conservatively treated patients physical quality of life deteriorated over time while general health, vitality and social functioning showed a declining trend. Mental health remained stable in both groups. Aortic valve replacement improves physical quality of life, general health and vitality in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Besides having a low life expectancy, conservatively treated patients experience deterioration of physical quality of life. Health surveys such as the SF-36v2TM can be valuable tools in monitoring the burden of disease for an individual patient and offer additional help in treatment decisions.

The impact of patient quality of life and spirituality upon caregiver depression for those with advanced cancer

Little is known about relationships between patient spiritual well-being and caregiver outcomes for those with advanced cancer. We were interested in examining the relationship between patient physical quality of life (QOL) and caregiver depression and to also evaluate whether patient spiritual well-being (SWB) played a mediating role in this relationship. This is a prospective longitudinal study that was conducted in the outpatient clinics at a university-affiliated comprehensive cancer center. 226 patients with Stage III or IV cancer (lung, GI, GYN) and their primary caregivers were interviewed upon enrollment into the study and three months later. Measures of spirituality, health-related quality of life, and physical functioning were included in the interviews. Key findings were that the relationship between patient physical QOL and caregiver depression was inverse and moderate (β = -0.24, p = 0.004) and that patient SWB (meaning/peace) played a significant (p = 0.02) and medium-size role (β = -0.31) in mediating the relationship between patient physical QOL and caregiver depression. The nature of these relationships was stable over time. Patients' spirituality is central to their coping and adjusting to cancer. It is this aspect of patient overall quality of life that mediates the relationship to caregiver well-being. The most potent intervention for caregiver depression may be attending to patient spiritual distress.

The effect of additional therapeutic ultrasound in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled study

To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the English literature about the usefulness of ultrasound therapy in degenerative hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to examine its short- and long-term efficacy in patients with primary hip osteoarthritis with regard to pain, functional status, and quality of life (QoL). Forty-five patients with primary hip osteoarthritis were enrolled into the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics including age, sex, duration of disease, and pain on activity and at rest using visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Functional status was determined by a 15-m timed walking test and Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Questionnaire. QoL was determined by the Short Form-36 survey (SF-36). Each patient was randomly assigned to either group I (standard physical therapy including hot pack and exercise program), group II (sham ultrasound in addition to standard physical therapy), or group III (ultrasound and standard physical therapy). The main outcome measures of the treatment were pain intensity by VAS; functional status measurements that were evaluated at baseline, at the end of the therapies, and at the first and third month of follow-up; and QoL scores that were determined at baseline and at the end of the first and third months. Twelve male and 33 female patients (mean age, 65.3 ± 6.7 years; mean disease duration, 2.5 ± 1.7 years) were included in the study. There were no differences between the groups regarding demographic variables on entry to the study. There were 15 patients in each group. Pain and functional outcome measures were determined to have improved significantly in all of the groups at the end of the therapies, but these improvements continued at the end of the first and third months only in group III (p < 0.001) The physical subscores of SF-36 were improved at the end of the first month and were maintained at the end of the third month only in patients receiving additional ultrasound therapy (group III, p < 0.001), while mental subscores of SF-36 did not change significantly in any group. In conclusion, addition of therapeutic ultrasound to the traditional physical therapy showed a longitudinal positive effect on pain, functional status, and physical QoL in patients with hip osteoarthritis. The use of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis should be encouraged, and it seems worthy to continue with large clinical trials on ultrasound in order to standardize the treatment modality in this patient group.

Coping and quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplantation

Objective Patients with end-stage lung disease (ESLD) experience significant decrements in quality of life (QOL). Although coping strategies are related to QOL in patients with ESLD, the extent to which specific native lung disease moderates this relationship is unknown. Methods We investigated the relationship between coping, native lung disease, and QOL among 187 patients awaiting lung transplantation, including 139 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 48 with cystic fibrosis (CF). Participants completed a psychosocial battery assessing psychological QOL, physical QOL, and coping strategies. Results For both COPD and CF patients, higher levels of Active Coping ( P<.0001) and lower levels of Disengagement ( P<.0001) were associated with better psychological QOL. For physical QOL, we observed a Native Disease×Coping interaction ( P=.01) such that Active Coping was associated with better physical QOL in patients with COPD but not in patients with CF. Conclusions The relationship between coping and QOL may vary as a function of native lung disease. Patients' native disease may need to be considered in order to develop effective interventions to help patients cope successfully with ESLD.

Do varicose veins affect quality of life? Results of an international population-based study

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of varicose veins (VV) on quality of life (QOL) and patient-reported symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was held in 166 general practices and 116 specialist clinics for venous disorders of the leg in Belgium, Canada (Quebec), France, and Italy. Study subjects included a sample of 259 reference patients without VV (CEAP class 0 or 1) and 1054 patients with VV who were classified as having VV alone (367; 34.8%), VV with edema (125; 11.9%), VV with skin changes (431; 40.9%), VV with healed ulcer (100; 9.5%), and VV with active ulcer (31; 2.9%). The main outcome measure was generic and disease-specific QOL, as measured by means of the Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) and the VEINES-QOL scale, and patient-reported symptoms as measured by the VEINES-SYM scale. Results: In patients with VV, age-standardized mean SF-36 physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) scores were 45.6 and 46.1 in men and 44.2 and 43.2 in women, respectively, compared with population norms of 50. PCS scores decreased according to increasing severity of concomitant venous disease, with the lowest mean scores of 37.3 and 35.5 found in patients with VV and active ulcer. However, adjusted analyses showed no statistically significant differences between patients with VV alone and patients without VV for PCS (0.0), MCS (1.0), VEINES-QOL (–0.1), or VEINES-SYM (0.0) scores. In comparison with patients without VV, the largest differences were seen in patients with VV and edema (PCS, VEINES-QOL, and VEINES-SYM score differences of –1.8, –2.5, and –2.9, respectively) and in patients with VV and ulceration (differences of –3.3, –3.4, and –2.7, respectively). The high prevalence of major symptoms of venous disorders in patients in CEAP class 0 or 1 being treated for venous disorders (76.1% of patients had heaviness, aching legs, or swelling) might have contributed to the impairment of QOL in the reference group. Conclusion: Results indicate that impairment in physical QOL in patients with VV is associated with concomitant venous disease, rather than the presence of VV per se. Findings concerning QOL in patients with VV can only be reliably interpreted when concomitant venous disease is taken into account. In patients with VV alone, the objectives of cosmetic improvement and the improvement of QOL should be considered separately. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:641-8.)