QoL Domain Research Articles

Exploring the Quality of Life (QOL) of medical students in Karachi, Pakistan

BackgroundThe pursuit of medical and dental education is challenging and can affect the overall quality of life of medical students. Assessing the quality of life of medical students is the first step in the preparation of efficient future health care professionals. This study used the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) to evaluate the quality of life of medical and dental students in Karachi, Pakistan.ObjectivesThe study objectives include: assessing the QoL of medical and dental students and their general health satisfaction and self-satisfaction.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 medical and dental students from different medical and dental schools in Karachi, Pakistan. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess QOL, which included 26 items covering four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. All scores for the domains ranged from 4 to 20. Scoring was done according to the WHOQOL-BREF procedure manual. The questionnaire was disseminated to medical students using Google Forms. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Cronbach’s alpha and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test were used to evaluate the reliability and sampling adequacy of the data for factor analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed for each variable and QoL domain, including frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations. Domain scores were compared using a t-test and one-way ANOVA, with p-values less than 0.05, indicating statistical significance.ResultsAmong the 344 medical students, 56.7% (n = 195) were female and 43.3% (n = 149) were male. The WHOQOL-BREF demonstrated excellent reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.918. Most medical students rated their overall QOL (62.2%) and health satisfaction (46.8%) as good, and were able to get around well (71.3%). No significant sex differences were found across the various QOL domains. Marital status significantly affected QOL scores (p < 0.005). Single students had significantly higher QOL scores than married/separated/divorced students did. Overall, the environmental domain had the highest mean score (26.81 ± 6.17), while social relationships had the lowest mean score (9.68 ± 2.93).ConclusionThe findings of this study provide valuable insights into the QoL of medical and dental students. Most participants reported moderate satisfaction with their physical health and lower satisfaction with the psychological, social, and environmental components of QoL. Marital status was found to significantly impact the QoL as compared to single students with greater QoL. These findings can help form targeted interventions to enhance medical students’ quality of life and prepare efficient future healthcare professionals.

Inspiratory muscle training impact on respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and quality of life in children with chest burn: A randomized controlled trial

PurposeRespiratory muscle function is compromised in children recovering from chest wall burns, which potentially leads to more impact on exercise capacity and quality of life. This study investigates the effects of an inspiratory muscle training intervention accompanied with a pulmonary rehabilitation program on respiratory muscle strength, lung function, functional capacity, and quality of life in chest burned children. MethodsForty children with burns, aged from 10 to 18 years old and total body surface area of 30% to 50%, were randomly allocated to the inspiratory muscle training group (IMT- G: n = 20) or control group (CG: n = 20). They received IMT plus pulmonary rehabilitation or pulmonary rehabilitation with sham IMT, respectively for eight weeks. The outcomes were the respiratory muscle strength measured by maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP); lung functions (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio); functional capacity as well as Pediatric Quality of Life to measure physical and psychosocial functioning. outcome measures were assessed at before and after intervention (after eight weeks). ResultsBased on the pre-intervention assessments, we found no significant difference between both groups (p > 0.05). Significant post-intervention differences were reported between both groups in MIP (P = .003), MEP (P = .017), FVC (P = .001), FEV1 (P = .007), FEV1/FVC ratio (P = .028), functional capacity (P = .003), physical domain of QoL (P = .006) and psychological domain of QoL (P = .002) in favor of the IMT group. ConclusionsEight weeks of inspiratory muscle training combined with pulmonary rehabilitation program improved children with chest burns' respiratory muscles strength, lung functions, functional capacity, and quality of life. Inspiratory muscle training may be employed in burn rehabilitation programs. It is a safe and effective therapy in chest burned children.

Pre- and Post-Treatment Quality of Life Among Patients with Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.

The development of health concepts beyond traditional markers of illness and death has made the evaluation of quality of life (QoL) crucial to patient care. Yet, there is little research evaluating the pre- and post-treatment QoL of cervical cancer survivors in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the pre- and post-treatment QoL of women diagnosed with advanced-stage cervical cancer. A cohort design was conducted at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Oncology Center. A total of 166 cervical cancer patients were recruited consecutively. Data was collected through interviews with standardized questionnaires before and after treatment. The Wilcoxon rank test was used to assess the significant differences in pre-treatment and post-treatment quality of life. Additionally, the Mann-Whitney U-test was also employed. Statistical significance was determined with p-values <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Women who were in stages IVA and IVB were 24.7% and 10.2%, respectively. Both the global health scale (66.67 [47.92-75] to 83.33 [66.67-83.33]) and the functional domain QoL (66.67 [40-80] to 70 [46.67-86.66]) showed statistically significant improvements from pre-treatment to post-treatment QoL. Women under the age of 45 were found to have higher global health QOL (P < 0.001) and functional domain QOL (P = 0.029). Women presented in stages II and III had comparatively higher global health QoL (P = 0.008) and functional domain QoL (P = 0.021). Global health QOL and the majority of functional quality of life significantly improved following six months of cancer treatment. But there was no discernible change in terms of sexual enjoyment, sexual function, or activity. Age, marital status, the duration since diagnosis, the stage of the cancer, and the presence of comorbidities were the factors that affected the improvement of post-treatment quality of life.

Posttreatment symptoms in hypothyroidism and correlations with thyroid-stimulating hormone and free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine: A ThyPRO-based follow-up study

ABSTRACT Background: Treatment of primary hypothyroidism with levothyroxine does not fully alleviate its symptoms. Though there have studies to correlate levels of tri-iodothyronine with symptomatology, its role still remains controversial. Aims: To study symptoms of hypothyroidism before and after levo-thyroxine therapy using ThyPRO 39 scores and to correlate these with thyroid hormone levels. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the in and outpatients' departments of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology of St John's Medical College Hospital. Patients were enrolled if they were aged over 18 years and were diagnosed with hypothyroidism (TSH&gt;/= 10 IU/l). Pregnant ladies and patients who had undergone radioiodine therapy or were diagnosed with thyroid cancers were excluded. Results: A total of 46 (F=28) patients were enrolled into the study. The mean age of the study group was 41.63 +/-SD 12.078 years.Among hypothyroid symptoms at diagnosis, Tiredness and Emotional Susceptibility had the highest effect size. Tiredness, Cognitive complaints and Depressive symptoms had significant negative correlation with fT3.While Goitre, Tiredness, and Cognitive complaints showed significant association with TSH, no correlations were noted with fT4 and many scores. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between fT3 and post therapy domain scores of Goitre, Tiredness, Impaired Daily Life and Impaired Social Life. There was a significant difference in the QoL domain between those with and without co-morbidities, the latter group having lower scores signifying better QoL. Conclusion: Symptoms of hypothyroidism may have a correlation with fT3 levels. Larger well-designed studies with supplementation of T3(triiodothyronine) and correlation with symptoms and tissue levels of fT3 will give conclusive answers.

Quality of Life and Association with Running Habits in Middle-Aged Street Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study

The study aimed to assess quality of life (QOL) and its association with running habits in middle-aged street runners. This is a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 33 amateur street racers (20 men and 13 women), selected for convenience in a running group in Porto Alegre-RS. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all data collection was performed online. Two questionnaires, one to assess running habits, with objective questions about the time, weekly hours of practice, and weekly training frequency, and the other to assess QoL (WHOQOL-bref) were won. As a result, street runners’ pair good levels of overall QoL (average: 77 points), as well as in the different domains of QoL (physical domain: 80 points, psychological: 78 points, social: 76 points, and environmental: 75 points, in media). The time of practice was directly associated with higher scores in the overall QoL and physical domain (P &lt;0.01) regardless of age, weekly hours, and weekly frequency. No associations existed between age and running habits in the psychological, social, and environmental domains. The street runners in the running group evaluated showed good QoL, especially in the physical, psychological and overall QoL domains, which was directly and positively associated with the time of practice in the modality.

MP12-07 PROSPECTIVE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN UNDERGOING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY AND URINARY DIVERSION

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP12-07 PROSPECTIVE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN UNDERGOING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY AND URINARY DIVERSION Kelly R. Pekala, Daniel Sjoberg, Matthew B. Clements, Benjamin Beech, Thomas Atkinson, Yuelin Li, Andrew Vickers, Harry Herr, S. Machele Donat, Amy Tin, Guido Dalbagni, and Bernard H. Bochner Kelly R. PekalaKelly R. Pekala More articles by this author , Daniel SjobergDaniel Sjoberg More articles by this author , Matthew B. ClementsMatthew B. Clements More articles by this author , Benjamin BeechBenjamin Beech More articles by this author , Thomas AtkinsonThomas Atkinson More articles by this author , Yuelin LiYuelin Li More articles by this author , Andrew VickersAndrew Vickers More articles by this author , Harry HerrHarry Herr More articles by this author , S. Machele DonatS. Machele Donat More articles by this author , Amy TinAmy Tin More articles by this author , Guido DalbagniGuido Dalbagni More articles by this author , and Bernard H. BochnerBernard H. Bochner More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003227.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of detailed health related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes available for women undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Our primary objective was to evaluate HRQoL after RC using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in women to identify patterns of recovery and whether any gender specific differences exist. METHODS: We conducted a prospective HRQoL study of patients undergoing RC using 14 different PROMs over a 2 year follow up period to evaluate the pattern of QoL changes from baseline. Using the Wald test, we simultaneously tested whether the sex and sex-urinary diversion interaction coefficients were non-zero to assess whether post-RC QoL was different between males and females. To assess whether post-RC QoL differed by sex, we fit one general estimating equation regression model for each QoL domain. This model estimates the mean QoL over the follow-up period. For each QoL domain, we build a regression model with QoL as the outcome and time point, urinary diversion type, and a time point-diversion type interaction as covariates. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant differences in post-RC QoL between men and women. Domains demonstrating female/male differences included global QoL, physical functioning, social functioning, body image, sexual functioning, mental health, and satisfaction with life. Women reported worse global QoL, physical function, social function, mental health and body image symptoms, including women who received continent diversions. (Figure 1a-c) Most of the observed differences were numerically small and correlate with a minimal clinically significant change. Women reported slightly higher sexual functioning (Figure 1d) and satisfaction with life scores compared to men. Over the recovery period, there were no female/male related differences found for bowel function, fear of recurrence, or decisional conflict. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several female specific differences in reported HRQoL after RC compared to men. Most differences were small and of questionable clinical significance; however, much work is needed to better understand the HRQoL specific to women undergoing RC. Characterization of sex-related differences is an essential step to improve preoperative counseling and make meaningful improvements in female patients’ QoL following RC. Source of Funding: Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Core grant number P30-CA008748, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32CA082088, and the Pin Down Bladder Cancer Fund © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e135 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Kelly R. Pekala More articles by this author Daniel Sjoberg More articles by this author Matthew B. Clements More articles by this author Benjamin Beech More articles by this author Thomas Atkinson More articles by this author Yuelin Li More articles by this author Andrew Vickers More articles by this author Harry Herr More articles by this author S. Machele Donat More articles by this author Amy Tin More articles by this author Guido Dalbagni More articles by this author Bernard H. Bochner More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

The Measurement of Quality of Life on Criminal Activities and Weather Changes

The prevailing weather conditions greatly influence human behaviour, activities, and quality of life, including crime. Previous studies have reported that crime focuses more on socio-economic, demographic, and municipal determinants, regardless of weather conditions. There is relatively complex research to explore the relationship between criminal behaviour and climate change towards the quality of life. Thus, measuring the quality of life can be important in understanding the impact of criminal activities and weather changes on individuals and communities. In the case of criminal activities, measuring the quality of life can help us understand how crime affects people's physical and mental health, social relationships, economic opportunities, and overall well-being. By assessing the impact of crime on quality of life, policymakers and law enforcement officials can better understand the actual costs of crime and develop more effective strategies for preventing and responding to criminal activities. Therefore, this paper explores the research gap to evaluate the validity and reliability of instruments for measuring the quality of life based on criminal activity and weather changes. This paper explores and describes the validity and reliability of a questionnaire/survey and discusses the finding of the measurement of quality of life-based on criminal activities and weather changes. This study uses a quantitative approach by using a random distribution of a questionnaire to residents in three states facing high crime rates. The survey involved 51 residents' respondents from the community. The findings of this paper show that this questionnaire is valid for measuring the quality of life with a substantial value of Cronbach's Alpha for the construct. The physical domain measured 0.91, psychological indicated 0.90, environmental indicated 0.71, and social indicated 0.77. Non-significant items will be restricted for each latent variable and reviewed and rearranged to ensure the number of items measuring each construct is satisfactory in future research. Measurement validation can be used to explore crime and behaviour in future research. This paper provided knowledge for future research about developing a quality-of-life questionnaire based on criminal activity and weather changes as environmental factors. More importantly, the researcher has discussed these measures and provided the suggested quality of life domain. Thus, measuring the level of satisfaction and perception would be helpful in future research (based on the QOL domain).

Handwriting and Motor-Related Daily Performance among Adolescents with Dysgraphia and Their Impact on Physical Health-Related Quality of Life.

Knowledge is limited about dysgraphia in adolescence and its association with daily motor-related daily performance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to (1) compare and (2) examine correlations between handwriting measures, motor-related daily performance, and HRQOL of adolescents with and without dysgraphia and (3) examine the contribution of motor-related daily performance and handwriting measures to predict their physical HRQOL. There were eighty adolescents (13–18 yr): half with dysgraphia and half matched controls without dysgraphia per the Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire and Handwriting Legibility Scale participated. They copied a paragraph script onto a paper attached to the Computerized Penmanship Evaluation Tool digitizer and completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-brief version and the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist (ADC). We found significant between-group differences in motor-related daily performance, handwriting measures, and HRQOL and significant correlations between HRQOL and handwriting process measures and motor-coordination ability. Handwriting measures predicted 25%, and the ADC A and C subscales 45.6%, of the research group’s physical QOL domain score variability. Notably, the control group’s current perceptions of their motor-coordination performance (ADC-C) predicted 36.5% of the variance in physical QOL. Dysgraphia’s negative effects during childhood and adolescence may reduce adolescents’ HRQOL now and into adulthood.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of Patients with Tuberculosis: A Review

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major killer and cause of human suffering worldwide and imposes a substantial reduction in patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL indicates the consciousness of patients regarding their physical and mental health. It is, therefore, very relevant in comprehending and measuring the exact impact of the disease state. Therefore, we undertook this review to summarize the available evidence on the impact of TB and its treatment on HRQoL. An in-depth understanding of HRQoL in TB patients can identify the existing management gaps. We undertook a systematic search through PubMed and CENTRAL. Data were extracted and tabulated for study design, targeted population, QoL instrument used, QoL domain assessed, and key findings. We included studies that assessed the effect of TB on the QoL both during and after treatment. There are no specific HRQoL assessment tools for utilization among TB patients. HRQoL is markedly impaired in patients with TB. The factors affecting HRQoL differ with active and latent TB, socio-demographics, socio-economic status, presence of co-infections, etc. This review’s findings can help to frame appropriate policies for tackling HRQoL issues in TB patients.

Physiotherapy Improves Dogs' Quality of Life Measured with the Milan Pet Quality of Life Scale: Is Pain Involved?

Simple SummaryRecent scientific evidence highlights the importance of assessing quality of life in veterinary patients. Quality of life reflects the well-being of animals from the physical, psychological, and social point of view, as well as the safety and freedom within their environment. In the current study, the quality of life of 20 adult dogs was measured at the beginning and at the end of a physiotherapy treatment, and the relationship with their clinical symptoms was investigated. The dogs underwent various physiotherapy procedures due to neurological, orthopedic, and degenerative conditions and had various degrees of lameness and pain. The assessment of the severity of the condition, diagnosed by the clinician, and the observations on the physical quality of life provided by the dog owners were aligned. In addition, the analysis indicated that the psychological quality of life of the dogs improved following the physiotherapy treatment, highlighting the emotional impact of the medical conditions on the dogs. Furthermore, the social quality of life was negatively impacted by the severity of the lameness, emphasizing how the medical conditions affected all aspects of the dog’s life. These results reveal the importance of considering psychological and emotional aspects when assessing the health of veterinary patients.Quality of life is defined as an individual’s satisfaction with its physical and psychological health, its physical and social environment, and its ability to interact with the environment. Understanding companion dogs’ QOL can help veterinarians and owners know when treatment options have successfully alleviated symptoms of disease in such fields as veterinary physiotherapy. For this study, 20 adult dogs were selected from patients of a physiotherapy referral center with orthopedic, neurological, and/or degenerative conditions. The severity of the medical problem was ranked, and the symptoms, the treatment plan, and demographic data were recorded at the time of the physical examination. In addition, the owner of the dog was asked to fill out a questionnaire on the quality of life of the pet (the Milan Pet Quality of Life scale) at the time of the first consultation as well as the last follow-up after the treatment. The MPQL measures four domains of QOL: physical (signs of medical conditions), psychological (emotional and behavioral well-being), social (quality and extent of social interactions), and environmental (freedom and safety in one’s environment). The results of the study indicated a significant improvement in the psychological QOL domain following physiotherapeutic treatment. The social QOL domain declined with the severity of lameness, while the physical QOL, as reported by the owner, declined with the overall criticality of the medical condition, as ranked by the physiotherapist. The results of the study support the recent evidence of a relationship between pain and canine psychological well-being and highlight the importance of investigating psychological and emotional aspects of dogs’ QOL when treating orthopedic and neurological cases with physiotherapy.

Quality of Life Domains in Breast Cancer Survivors: The Relationship Between Importance and Satisfaction Ratings.

ObjectivesQuality of life (QoL) has been the focus of increasing interest in oncology. QoL assessment instruments implicitly assume that each QoL domain has the same meaning for each patient. The objective of this study was to analyze the importance of and the satisfaction with QoL domains and to analyze the relationship between the two.MethodsA sample of 308 breast cancer survivors was examined twice with a three-month time interval. The women completed the two QoL questionnaires Questions of Life Satisfaction (FLZ-M), which measures participants' satisfaction with eight QoL domains and the subjective importance of those domains to them, and the EORTC QLQ-C30. A sample of 1,143 women from the general population served as controls.ResultsCompared with the general population sample, the patients were less satisfied with their health and more satisfied with all other QoL domains. The subjective importance of health was lower in the patients' sample (Effect size: d = 0.38). Satisfaction with health and importance of health were slightly positively correlated (r between 0.05 and 0.08). The effect of QoL domain importance on general QoL was small (beta between −0.05 and 0.11), and interaction effects between domain importance and satisfaction on the prediction of global QoL were negligible.ConclusionIn addition to satisfaction with QoL dimensions, the subjective importance of these dimensions is relevant for psychooncological research and treatment. Health is not the only relevant QoL domain in breast cancer survivors, other domains such as finances also deserve health care providers' attention.

A descriptive systematic review of the relationship between personality traits and quality of life of women with non-metastatic breast cancer

BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is an important patient-reported outcome that has been studied extensively as an endpoint. There is a growing interest in factors that may influence QoL, such as personality. This descriptive systematic review examined the relationship between personality and QoL in women with non-metastatic breast cancer. MethodsOn November 24th, 2020, with a update on March 7th, 2022, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and Embase were systematically searched for studies that assessed the direct relationship between personality traits and QoL among adult women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer. The National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tool was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. Three reviewers independently extracted data regarding objectives, population, setting, design, method, outcome measurements and key results. The results are descriptively reported.ResultsTwelve studies (6 cohort studies and 6 cross-sectional studies) were included. Three studies were rated as poor, one study was rated as good, and the remaining studies were rated as moderate. There was a small to moderate effect of personality on QoL as correlation coefficients ranged from 0.10 to 0.77, and the explained variance ranged from 4 to 43%. The (strength of the) relationship depended on the personality trait and QoL domain that was measured and was most apparent for the personality traits ‘optimism’ and ‘trait anxiety’ on psychosocial QoL domains. The results for the personality traits (unmitigated) agency, agreeableness, conscientiousness, novelty seeking, and self-efficacy indicated a smaller but statistically significant correlation between these personality traits and QoL.ConclusionsThe results confirm that personality affects QoL in women with non-metastatic breast cancer and thus provides evidence that personality traits are indeed important influential factors of QoL. It is therefore strongly recommended for all future QoL research to measure personality traits and use these variables as predictive factors, as they are needed to accurately interpret QoL. Information regarding personality traits provide physicians and patients with an interpretation of low or deterioration of QoL, which could guide physicians to improve their patients’ health outcomes and subsequently QoL using psycho-oncological support or treatment.

Quality of life of women with breast cancer in a tertiary referral university hospital

BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is one of the treatment outcome measures in patients with breast cancer. In this study, we measured the QoL of women with breast cancer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and identified the associated factors.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 to December 2017 and involved female patients with breast cancer. The QoL scores and domains were determined using the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L, and were presented as the utility value and visual analog scores, respectively.ResultsWe recruited a total of 173 women, aged 33–87 years. The median VA score was 80.00 (interquartile range [IQR] 70.00–90.00); the median utility value was 0.78 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.65–1.00. Women who did not take traditional medicine had a higher utility index score of 0.092 (95% CI 0.014–0.171), and women with household income of RM3000–5000 had a higher utility index score of 0.096 (95% CI 0.011–0.180).ConclusionTraditional medicine consumption and household income were significantly associated with lower QoL. The pain/discomfort domain was the worst affected QoL domain and was related to traditional medicine use and household income. Addressing pain management in patients with breast cancer and the other factors contributing to lower QoL may improve the QoL of breast cancer survivors in the future.

Tadalafil monotherapy in management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

PurposeIn this placebo-controlled trial, we aimed to evaluate the clinical results of using PDE-5 inhibitor, tadalafil 5 mg OD, for management of CP/CPPS.Patients and methods140 patients ≤ 45 years old with moderate/severe CP/CPPS associated with ED (IIEF-5 < 22) were randomly divided and received either tadalafil 5 mg OD (tadalafil-group) or placebo (control-group) for 6 weeks. Post-treatment CPSI scores were compared to baseline and to placebo. Clinically significant responders (≥ 25% reduction from baseline score) were calculated. Tadalafil-induced changes in IIE-5 were evaluated in correlation to that of CPSI scores.ResultsBy the 6th week, 59 and 56 patients were available in both groups respectively. Compared to baseline, tadalafil-group patients showed significant improvement in total, pain, urinary and Qol domains of CPSI (19.1 ± 5.26, 10.42 ± 3.55, 4.2 ± 1.72 and 4.47 ± 1.64 vs. 24.21 ± 5.05, 12.14 ± 3.57, 6.08 ± 1.53 and 6.22 ± 1.76), p < 0.5. When compared to placebo, all 6th week CPSI domains scores, except for pain, were significantly better in tadalafil-group (p < 0.05). Post-treatment pain score didn't significantly differ between both groups (10.42 ± 3.55, vs. 11.71 ± 3.9, p > 0.05). Clinically significant responders were 30 patients (50.8%) in tadalafil-group vs. 3 patients (5.4%) in control. Tadalafil-induced changes in IIEF-5 score had weak but significant correlation to Qol domain (r = − 0.28, p < 0.05).ConclusionTadalafil 5 mg OD can significantly improve all CPSI domains as compared to baseline. Post-treatment CPSI scores, except for pain, were better than placebo. About 50.8% of patients can develop ≥ 25% reduction in their total CPSI scores after treatment. Apart from Qol domain, these changes are not significantly correlated to tadalafil-induced IIEF-5 scores changes.

M7. Effects of the angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor/sacubitril-valsartan administration on quality of life and outcome in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta analysis

Abstract Background and Aims Improved quality of life is a mayor treatment goal in heart failure. Based on the PARADIGM-HF trial, ARNI was found improved quality of life in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aims of this study are to evaluate the quality of life and outcome patient HFrEF after ARNI administration. Methods and Result Published scientific articles is searched through PubMed database with inclusion criteria were Randomized Control Trial (RCT) or observational study in the last 10 years (2014 - 2021), the QoL is measured by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Score (KCCQ). A total of 4 RCTs and 3 observational studies were selected. There was significantly increase in KCCQ Overall Summary score (MD = 2.01 [95% CI, 1.07, 2.96], p &amp;lt; 0.00001). There was also significantly increase in KCCQ physical limitation domain (MD = 1.21[95% CI, 0.12, 2.30], p = 0.03), QoL domain (MD = 2.66[95% CI, 0.64, 4.69], p = 0.010) and social limitation domain (MD = 1.97[95% CI, 0.98, 2.95], p &amp;lt; 0.0001). The relative risk in HFrEF patients for first hospital admission was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.77, 0.87, p &amp;lt; 0.00001) and relative risk for cardiovascular death was 0.81(95% CI, 0.76, 0.87, p &amp;lt; 0.00001). Hypotension was found as significant adverse event after treatment with ARNI (RR = 1.57 [95% CI, 1.41, 1.75], p &amp;lt; 0.00001). Conclusion ARNI was found significantly improved quality of life, reduced morbidity and mortality in patient HFrEF compared with control but might causes a serious adverse event such as hypotension. Due to limitation data of adverse event, a further investigation might be needed.

The longitudinal use of EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaire health-related quality of life scores in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaires are developed to evaluate HRQoL specifically in patients with PH. Data on the longitudinal use of both questionnaires are still limited. Purpose This paper will evaluate and compare the longitudinal value of two health-related quality of life questionnaires specific for patients with pulmonary hypertension (CAMPHOR and EmPHasis-10 questionnaires) using a broad spectrum of clinical anchor points. Furthermore we will establish minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for both questionnaires. Methods Sixty-one treatment naïve pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic patients were prospectively included. Patients were treated according to the current ESC/ERS guidelines. We compared EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR scores between baseline, 6 and 12 months of follow-up and evaluated the correlation between these scores and a 5-scale symptom severity score, 5-scale overall health score, NYHA-classification, six minute walk test distance (6MWD), NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. MCIDs were calculated using distribution and anchor based calculations. Results After one year of treatment a significant reduction in EmPHasis-10 score and CAMPHOR QoL and symptoms domain score was observed. Moderate to good correlations were observed between the questionnaires and the overall-health and symptom severity score and 6MWD. No relevant correlations were seen between the questionnaires and NT-pro-BNP and echocardiographic parameters. EmPHasis-10 scores showed strong correlations with all CAMPHOR domains. The MCID for the EmPHasis-10 questionnaire was −8. The MCIDs for the CAMPHOR domains were: activity −3, symptoms −4, QoL −3. Conclusion The EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaires are valid tools for the longitudinal measurement of HRQoL in patients with PH. The much shorter EmPHasis-10 correlates well with the CAMPHOR domain scores and with the clinical endpoints and it may be easier to use in daily practice. We established acceptable MCIDs. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): This research project was supported by an unrestricting grant by Actelion pharmaceuticals.

Higher levels of unmet support needs in spouses are associated with poorer quality of life \u2013 a descriptive cross-sectional study in the context of palliative home care

BackgroundFamily caregivers often report having unmet support needs when caring for someone with life-threatening illness. They are at risk for psychological distress, adverse physical symptoms and negatively affected quality of life. This study aims to explore associations between family caregivers’ support needs and quality of life when caring for a spouse receiving specialized palliative home care.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional design was used: 114 family caregivers completed the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) and the Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness – Family caregiver version (QOLLTI-F) and 43 of them also answered one open-ended question on thoughts about their situation. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression analyses, and qualitative content analysis, were used for analyses.ResultsHigher levels of unmet support needs were significantly associated with poorer quality of life. All CSNAT support domains were significantly associated with one or more quality of life domains in QOLLTI-F, with the exception of the QoL domain related to distress about the patient condition. However, family caregivers described in the open-ended question that their life was disrupted by the patient’s life-threatening illness and its consequences. Family caregivers reported most the need of more support concerning knowing what to expect in the future, which they also described as worries and concerns about what the illness would mean for them and the patient further on. Lowest QoL was reported in relation to the patient’s condition, and the family caregiver’s own physical and emotional health.ConclusionWith a deeper understanding of the complexities of supporting family caregivers in palliative care, healthcare professionals might help to increase family caregivers’ QoL by revealing their problems and concerns. Thus, tailored support is needed.

Correlation between Shoulder Range of Motion, Upper Extremity Disability and Quality of Life in Female Breast Cancer Survivors Post Modified Radical Mastectomy: A Pilot Study

Background: Many complications may occur after modified radical mastectomy (MRM) such as restricted shoulder mobility, wound infection, seroma formation, pain and lymph edema. Purpose: To find the correlation between shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM) with upper extremity disability and quality of life in female post MRM. Methodology: A cross section observation study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 20 breast cancer survivors who underwent MRM before 6 months or more were included. Their affected side shoulder flexion and abduction ROM was measured using universal goniometer, upper extremity disability was assessed using Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) and Quality of Life was assessed using WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire. Results: Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find the correlation. Strong positive correlation was found between shoulder flexion ROM and UEFI score, physical, psychological and environmental domains, whereas moderate positive correlation was found between shoulder flexion ROM and overall QoL, these were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). But there was weak positive correlation found between shoulder flexion ROM and social domain of WHOQoL-BREF which was statistically not significant (p&gt;0.001). Further strong positive correlation was found between shoulder abduction ROM and UEFI score, overall Qol, physical and psychological domain and moderate positive correlation was found between shoulder abduction ROM and environmental domain whereas again weak positive correlation found with social domain which was statistically not significant (p&gt;0.001). Conclusion: Decreased shoulder ROM can increase upper extremity disability and affect overall QoL in breast cancer survivors post MRM. Keywords: Breast cancer survivors, Modified Radical Mastectomy, Quality of Life, Shoulder ROM, Upper extremity disability.

Quality of life in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in France: results from a French cross-sectional study

In recent years, treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has improved substantially, leading to longer survival. This has necessitated a greater focus on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but data are lacking. In a part-prospective, part-retrospective study, we enrolled 219 adults with ALL in France to assess the impact of key disease and treatment characteristics on HRQoL. Overall HRQoL and most specific QoL domain scores were consistently better among patients receiving front-line therapy, those currently in complete remission, and those who had previously received hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Furthermore, HRQoL was consistently impaired in patients with minimal residual disease present (MRD+). In multivariate analyses, multiple lines of therapy, MRD+, leukopenia, comorbidities, and anemia were significantly associated with impaired HRQoL. This study provides real-world data on HRQoL in adults with ALL in France and shows the positive impact of MRD-negative status on HRQoL.

The longitudinal use of EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaire health-related quality of life scores in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaires are developed to evaluate HRQoL specifically in patients with PH. Data on the longitudinal use of both questionnaires are still limited. We evaluated the longitudinal value of both questionnaires and established minimal clinically important differences (MCID). MethodsSixty-one treatment naïve pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic patients were prospectively included. Patients were treated according to the current ESC/ERS guidelines. We compared EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR scores between baseline, 6 and 12 months of follow-up and evaluated the correlation between these scores and a 5-scale symptom severity score, 5-scale overall health score, NYHA-classification, 6 min walk test distance (6MWD), NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. ResultsAfter one year of treatment a significant reduction in EmPHasis-10 score and CAMPHOR QoL and symptoms domain score was observed. Moderate to good correlations were observed between the questionnaires and the overall-health and symptom severity score and 6MWD. No relevant correlations were seen between the questionnaires and NT-pro-BNP and echocardiographic parameters. EmPHasis-10 scores showed strong correlations with all CAMPHOR domains. The MCID for the EmPHasis-10 questionnaire was −8. The MCIDs for the CAMPHOR domains were: activity −3, symptoms −4, QoL −3. ConclusionThe EmPHasis-10 and CAMPHOR questionnaires are valid tools for the longitudinal measurement of HRQoL in patients with PH. The much shorter EmPHasis-10 correlates well with the CAMPHOR domain scores and with the clinical endpoints and it may be easier to use in daily practice.