Visual Analogue Scale Quality Of Life Research Articles

French validation of the oMtFSFI Questionnaire for assessing the sexual function of Transgender women after vulvo-vaginoplasty

IntroductionThe Operated Male-to-Female Sexual Function Index (oMtFSFI) questionnaire is the first scoring system developed to assess sexual function after gender-affirming vulvo-vaginoplasty, and was initially developed and validated in Italian. The aim of this study was to provide linguistic validation of the questionnaire in French through several steps including use of the questionnaires across a series of patients who had undergone gender-affirming vulvo-vaginoplasty between 2020 and 2022 at two French academic centers. MethodThe French version of the oMtFSFI questionnaire was obtained through a double translation (Italian to French) and a back-translation (French to Italian), validated by a scientific committee, and cognitively assessed by a panel of expert patients. The questionnaire was then distributed to transgender male to female patients who had undergone genital gender affirming surgery at two French academic centers. ResultsThe oMtFSFI score consists of 18 questions exploring 7 domains (genital self-image, desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, sexual pain). Among the sixty-four patients who responded to the questionnaire, 16 patients (25%) reported abstaining from sexual activity involving vaginal penetration at the time of the study were excluded. The mean total score was 37, corresponding to mild to moderate sexual dysfunction and 60.4% of the patients reported normal overall sexual function. The level of sexual satisfaction was normal for 68.8% of the patients and the genital self-image was normal for 52.1%. Most of the patients (79.2%) reported at least mild dyspareunia and 10.4% had critical sexual dysfunction. Surgery improved gender dysphoria in 96.7% of patients. There was a strong correlation between the overall oMtFSFI score and the happiness Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (P<0.001) as well as with the quality of life VAS (P<0.001). ConclusionThe French version of the oMtFSFI questionnaire is the only scoring system specifically developed to assess sexual function after vulvo-vaginoplasty in transgender women linguistically validated in French. Its validation in French language makes it an interesting tool for research and clinical practice. Level of evidence3.

A nationwide multicenter study of the cost effectiveness of five leading drugs for pharmacological management of cervicobrachial symptoms

BackgroundCervicobrachial pain frequently affects the quality of life (QOL) of the general public and has a significant economic impact on the health care systems of various countries. There are a number of treatment options for this disease, including widely-used drug therapy, but the effectiveness of each option is indeterminate, and there have been no published cost-effectiveness analysis studies so far. This prospective observational study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of drug treatment for cervicobrachial symptoms. MethodsA 6-month medication regimen for each of five frequently-prescribed drugs for cervicobrachial symptoms was administered to 322 patients at 24 centers in Japan. Outcome measures, including of the EuroQol Group 5D, Short Form-8, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), were investigated at baseline and every month thereafter. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of the drug cost to quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated. A stratified analysis of patient characteristics was also performed to identify baseline factors potentially affecting cost-effectiveness. ResultsThe ICER of entire drug treatment for cervicobrachial symptoms was 7,491,640 yen. Compared with the reference willingness-to-pay, the ICER was assumed to not be cost-effective. A certain number of QALYs were gained during the first 3 months after the treatment intervention, but almost no QALYs were gained during the following 3 months. Stratified analysis showed that cost-effectiveness was extremely low for patients with high baseline VAS and high QOL. ConclusionsThe available medications for cervicobrachial symptoms did not have excellent cost-effectiveness. Although a certain number of QALYs were gained during the first 3 months after medication, no QALYs were gained in the latter half of the study period, suggesting that it is not advisable to continue the medication needlessly. Level of evidenceII, prospective cohort study.

A Prospective Intervention Study With 6 Months Follow-up of the Effect of Reablement in Home Dwelling Elderly: Patient-reported and Observed Outcomes

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of a reablement intervention (a person-centered, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach) compared with usual care services in home-dwelling elderly experiencing functional declines in activities of daily living. DesignA non-randomized controlled trial comparing a reablement intervention with usual care; outcomes were measured at baseline, after intervention, and at a 6-month from baseline in both groups. SettingMunicipal public health service. ParticipantsSixty-five home-dwelling elderly with functional decline were assigned by the participants home care service zone to a reablement group (n=35), or a usual care group (n=30). The mean participant age was 80±11 years in the reablement group and 78±12 in the usual care group. InterventionThe reablement group received a person-centered and tailored reablement program provided by an interdisciplinary team, consisting of a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a nurse. The usual care group received standard home care services. Main Outcome MeasuresThe dimension “Your health today” from the European Quality of Life-Visual Analog Scale (HRQOL), the patient-specific functional scale for goals in ADL (PSFS), the short physical performance battery (SPPB), and home care services in hours per week. ResultsThere were significant differences over time in favor of the reablement group with between-group effect sizes of Cohen h2=0.36 (P=.001) for HRQOL, h2=0.60 (P=.001) for PSFS, h2=0.30 (P=.001) for SPPB, and h2=0.10 (P=.013) for hours of home care services per week. The within-group effect size for PSFS was h2=0.15 (P=.010) in favor of the reablement group. The mean number of hours of home care services per week was mean 0.38±1.07 (P=.001) in the reablement group and mean 30.38±64.13 (P=.023) in the usual care group. ConclusionsThe participants in the reablement group achieved and maintained better physical function, a higher HRQOL and needed considerably less home care services than the usual care group participants. Thus, reablement appears to be a more beneficial and sustainable approach than the usual care services for the home-dwelling elderly with functional decline.

Associations Between Measures of Disability and Quality of Life at Three Months After Stroke.

Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS), which measures degree of disability in daily activities, is the most common outcome measure in stroke research. Quality of life (QoL), however, is impacted by factors other than disability. The goal of this study was to assess the correlation between functional dependence and a more patient-centered QoL measure, the European QoL visual analog scale (EQ VAS). Methods: We reviewed prehospital and hospital records from 11 acute care hospitals in Seattle, Washington (USA) from June 2000 to January 2003 for this cohort study. Patients with a final diagnosis of stroke were contacted three to four months after stroke, and mRS and EQ VAS were assessed. Good QoL was defined as EQ VAS ≥65. Results: Of 760 patients with stroke, 346 were available at three to four months. Most (296, 85.5%) had ischemic stroke. Overall, mRS and QoL were negatively correlated (Spearman's ρ -0.53, p < 0.001). Percentage of good QoL decreased as mRS increased from 0 to 5 (88%, 70%, 52%, 50%, 31%, 20%, respectively, p < 0.001). However, 36% (n = 62) of patients with dependent mRS (3-5, n = 174) reported good QoL, and 30% (n = 52) of patients with independent mRS (0-2, n = 172) reported poor QoL. In multivariable analysis, older age, male gender, and absence of dementia, were associated with good QoL despite dependent mRS; atrial fibrillation was associated with poor QoL despite independent mRS. Conclusions: QoL decreases with increasing mRS, but exceptions exist with good QoL despite high mRS. To provide patient-centered care, clinicians and researchers should avoid equating disability with QoL after stroke.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Nonparalytic Limb of Residual Poliomyelitis Patients: A Propensity Score Matched Study.

Poliomyelitis is a rare neuromuscular disease that can cause hip osteoarthritis on the contralateral side due to an abnormal mechanical weight-bearing state, making some residual poliomyelitis patients candidates for total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of THA in the nonparalytic limbs of these patients compared with those of non-poliomyelitis patients. Patients treated between January 2007 and May 2021 were retrospectively identified in a single center arthroplasty database. Eight residual poliomyelitis cases that met the inclusion criteria were matched to non-poliomyelitis cases in a ratio of 1:2 based on age, sex, body mass index (BMI), age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI), surgeon, and operation date. The hip function, health-related quality of life, radiographic outcomes, and complications were analyzed with unpaired Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test or analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Survivorship analysis was determined using the Kaplan-Meier estimator analysis and Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test. After a mean follow-up of about 5 years, patients with residual poliomyelitis had worse postoperative mobility outcomes(P < 0.05), but there was no difference in total modified Harris hip score (mHHS) or European quality of life-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no difference in radiographic outcomes or complications between the two groups, and patients had similar postoperative satisfaction (P > 0.05). No readmission or reoperation occurred in the poliomyelitis group (P > 0.05), but the postoperative limb length discrepancy (LLD) in the residual poliomyelitis group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Functional outcomes, health-related quality of life improvement were similarly significantly improved in the nonparalytic limb of residual poliomyelitis patients after THA compared with conventional osteoarthritis patients. However, the residual LLD and weak muscle strength of the affected side will still influence mobility, so residual poliomyelitis patients should be fully informed of this outcome before surgery.

The Prevalence of COVID-19 Fog and the Impact on Quality of Life After SARS-CoV-2 Infection (QoL-COVID): A Cross Sectional Study.

Coronavirus has an impact on both the physical and mental health of individuals. The literature regarding the patient's health status post-SARS-CoV-2 is still scarce with limited data on the prevalence of residual symptoms and quality of life (QoL) after the infection. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on patient QoL, and remaining symptoms. Single center cross-sectional study of patients who had been admitted to our COVID-19 ward between March 2020 and March 2021. By applying a QoL questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) we assessed the overall sample, at three time points and in different groups of patients: those admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the elderly. A total of 125 participants were included in our study. Most patients who were admitted had a severe course of disease (51%), with 22% of admissions to the ICU, with 8% requiring prone ventilation, 10% experiencing thrombotic complications and 18% of nosocomial infections throughout the admission. As for persistent symptoms related with COVID-19 fog, the most frequent were fatigue (57%), memory loss (52%) and insomnia (50%). Regarding QoL, the average decrease was 0.08 ± 0.2 in the index and 8.7 ± 19 in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The QoL index decrease correlated with age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and heart failure, and all persistent symptoms, significantly. QoL VAS correlated significantly with fatigue, mood changes, difficulty concentrating and memory loss. The decrease in QoL and the persistent symptoms remained overall stable over the three time points. The ICU group showed no statistically significant difference in QoL, but the most frequently persistent symptoms were mood changes and attention disturbances. However, the elderly experienced a worsening in QoL expressed by index (0.69 ± 0.3 vs 0.8 ± 0.2, p-value = 0.01). A decrease in QoL was observed following SARS-CoV-2 infection, correlating with both chronic conditions and persistent symptoms. The lack of difference through time points of both QoL and persistent symptoms suggests a long-standing effect.

Clinical analysis of percutaneous kyphoplasty for spinal metastases in older adults with comorbidities

IntroductionWe aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for spinal metastases in older adult patients with comorbidities. Materials and MethodsNinety-two older adults (age ≥ 60 years) with spinal metastases who underwent 148 PKP procedures were retrospectively analyzed. Tokuhashi scores, Tomita scores, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI) scores, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores were evaluated before the procedure. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), vertebral body height (VBH), and quality of life (QoL) were used to assess the efficacy of the procedure. Clinical safety was evaluated based on periprocedural complications. ResultsTokuhashi scores and Tomita scores were 7.3 ± 4.0 and 5.8 ± 2.1, respectively. Excluding cancer-related factors, twelve patients (13.0%) had aCCI scores ≥4. Forty-three patients (46.7%) had ASA status ≥ III. Compared to preoperative status, average VAS scores, ODI scores, VBH variation, and QoL scores significantly improved at each follow-up examination point after PKP (p < 0.001). No major complications occurred, nor was there decompensation of comorbidities in the perioperative period. Seventeen segments (11.5%) of twelve patients (13.0%) suffered bone cement leakage. Among them, one patient suffered intercostal neuralgia cured by steroid injection, and the other patient suffered hyperesthesia, which disappeared after taking gabapentin (0.3 g, bid) for five weeks. Another minor complication of local hematoma occurred in one patient, which spontaneously resolved without surgical intervention. DiscussionPKP serves as a safe approach to provide significant pain relief, vertebral body height restoration, and QoL improvements for spinal metastases in older adults, independent of underlying disease.

Can the Unipedicular Approach Replace Bipedicular Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty for the Management of Metastatic Vertebral Lesions?

To compare the clinical and radiographic results of bipedicular and unipedicular approaches(UPK and BPK) in the management of metastatic vertebral lesions MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients with 159 metastatic vertebral lesions who underwent UPK(25 cases, 69 lesions) or BPK(57 cases, 90 lesions) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical results were assessed mainly depending on the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) and Quality of Life(QoL). Radiographic outcomes were evaluated primarily on the basis of bone cement distribution and changes in vertebral body height(VBH). Major and minor complications were systematically evaluated and compared to assess the safety of the 2 procedures. No statistically significant differences were observed in age, sex, types of lesions, location of lesions, posterior vertebral body and/or pedicle involvement, percentage of vertebra invasion between the groups(p=0.17-0.83). The radiographic parameter VBH was similarly improved in both groups(p=0.26-0.93). There was a significant improvement in the clinical parameters VAS score, ODI, and QoL at each follow-up examination compared with the preoperative results(p<0.001). Significant improvement was observed in the VBH at each follow-up point(p<0.05) compared to pre-procedure. UPK was superior to BPK in terms of the operative duration(p<0.001), cement volume(p=0.004), and surgical complications(p=0.04). Both UPK and BPK resulted in similar clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with metastatic vertebral lesions. The UPK had advantages including a shorter operation and lower cement volume than the BPK, which may have played an important role in reducing the incidence of complications. UPK can replace BPK in the treatment of metastatic vertebral lesions.

Effects of Korean Medicine Treatment in Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome: A Retrospective Case Series of 15 Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment.Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc.Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and &lt;i&gt;Saengmaek-san&lt;/i&gt; (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild.Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

Protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study evaluating arthroscopic and non-surgical treatment for microinstability of the hip joint

BackgroundMicroinstability of the hip joint is a proposed cause of hip pain and reduced function in young individuals. The underlying mechanism is thought to be extraphysiological hip motion due to bony deficiency and/or soft tissue deficiency or decreased soft tissue function. Recently, the condition has gained increased attention, and despite the fact that treatment today includes both non-surgical and surgical approaches, there is limited evidence on diagnostic specificity and treatment effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes of both non-surgical and surgical treatment for microinstability of the hip joint.MethodsA multicenter prospective cohort study is planned to evaluating the outcome of physical therapy aimed at stabilizing the hip joint, as well as arthroscopic plication of the hip joint capsule, if the physical therapy fails. Outcomes will be evaluated using hip-specific patient-reported outcome measures: the short version of the International Hip Outcome Tool and the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score, strength and function tests, health-related quality of life as determined using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions and the European Quality of Life-Visual Analog Scale, sports activity levels according to the Hip Sport Activity Scale, and reported complications. Patients will be evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 months after each treatment.DiscussionIt is important to evaluate the clinical outcomes of both non-surgical and surgical treatment for suspected microinstability of the hip joint, and the planned prospective evaluation will contribute to the understanding of non-surgical as well as surgical treatment outcomes, including complications.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT04934462. Registered June 22 2021.

Effects of Supervised Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes on Quality of Life among Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Traditionally, cardiac rehabilitation programmes are offered after cardiac events to aid recovery, improve quality of life, and reduce adverse events. The objective of this review was to assess the health-related quality of life, after a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme, of patients who suffered a myocardial infarction. A systematic review was carried out in the CINAHL, Cochrane, LILACS, Medline, Scopus, and SciELO databases, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Randomised controlled trials were selected. Meta-analyses were performed for the Short Form Health Survey SF-36, Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS), MacNew Heart Disease-Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire, and European Quality of Life-Visual Analogue Scale (EuroQol-VAS) with the software Cochrane RevMan Web. Ten articles were found covering a total of 3577 patients. In the meta-analysis, the effect size of the cardiac rehabilitation programme was statistically significant in the intervention group for physical activity, emotional reaction, and dependency dimensions of the MIDAS questionnaire. For the control group, the score improved for SF-36 physical functioning, and body pain dimensions. The mean difference between the control and intervention group was not significant for the remaining dimensions, and neither for the MacNew Heart Disease-HRQL and EuroQol-VAS questionnaires. Supervised cardiac rehabilitation programmes were effective in improving health-related quality of life, however, there was a potential variability in the interventions; therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. This study supports the importance of providing care and evaluating interventions via the supervision of trained health professionals, and further randomised clinical trials are needed to analyse the positive changes in mental and physical health outcomes.

Surgery for deep venous insufficiency.

Surgery for deep venous insufficiency.

The Relationship between Subjective Symptoms and Quality of Life in Conjunctivochalasis Patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in subjective symptoms between patients with conjunctivochalasis (CCh) and dry eye (DE), and examine the relationship between subjective symptoms and quality of life (QOL). In 75 eyes of 75 CCh patients and 122 eyes of 122 DE patients, 12 subjective symptoms classified into four groups depending on the mechanisms associated with symptoms (ITF: instability of tear film, IF: increased friction, R: reflex, and DTC: delayed tear clearance) were evaluated by use of a visual analogue scale (VAS). Fifteen items related to DE symptoms and their influence on daily life were evaluated by use of the dry eye-related quality-of-life score (DEQS) questionnaire, with overall degree of QOL impairment calculated as a QOL score. The correlation between the Total VAS score and QOL score were evaluated. Between the CCh and DE patients, significant differences in subjective symptoms were found in eye dryness, pain, tearing sensitivity to light, and heavy eyelids, while tearing was higher in CCh. A significant strong correlation was found between QOL score and Total VAS score, ITF, and IF in CCh patients. The QOL of CCh patients is strongly determined by decreased tear-film stability and increased friction during blinking.

The Quality of Life, Patient Satisfaction and Rehabilitation in Patients With a Low Energy Fracture-Part III of an Observational Study.

IntroductionDue to the aging population the incidence of Low Energy Fractures (LEF) increases. LEF have high mortality and morbidity rates and often cause elderly to lose independence. Patient-reported outcomes, such as Quality of Life (QoL) and patient satisfaction (PS) are needed to evaluate treatment, estimate cost-benefit analyses, and to improve clinical decision-making and patient-centered care.ObjectiveThe primary goal was to evaluate QoL and PS in patients with LEF, and to compare QoL scores to the community dwelling population. Second, we observed the amount and type of physiotherapy (PT) sessions the patients conducted.MethodsA single-center cohort study was conducted in Switzerland. Patients between 50 and 85 years, who were treated in the hospital for LEF, were followed 1 year after initial fracture. Data on QoL were obtained through the Euroqol-5-Dimension questionnaire-3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) and the EQ VAS (visual analog scale). PS was measured by a VAS on satisfaction with treatment outcome. Data on PT sessions, mobility and use of analgesics were collected by telephone interviews and written surveys. Results were compared between the different fracture locations and subgroup analyses were performed for age categories.Results411 patients were included for analysis. The median scores of the EQ-5D-3L index—VAS and PS were 0.90 (0.75–1.0), 90 (71.3–95) and 100 (90–100). Significant differences in all scores were found between fracture location (P < .05), with hip fracture patients and patients with a malleolar fracture scoring lowest in all measures. QoL index in hip fracture patients was 0.76 (0.70–1.00), QoL VAS 80 (70–90), and PS 95 (80–100). Median amount of PT sessions in all patients was 18 (9–27) and a significant difference was found between fracture locations. Patients with a fracture of the humerus received the highest amount of PT sessions 27 (18–36), hip fracture patients had a median of 18 (9–27) sessions.ConclusionAt follow-up, QoL throughout all patients with a LEF was comparable to a normal population. Remarkably, though hip fracture patients seem to suffer from a clinically relevant loss of QoL, they received fewer PT sessions and performed fewer long-lasting home training than patients with a humerus fracture. Intensive, progressive rehabilitation with a high frequency of supervised training is recommended after hip fracture. The low frequency of PT sessions found in this study is unsatisfying. In hip fracture patients and in patients with a malleolar fracture, especially when aged over 75 years, more efforts are required to improve rehabilitation and subsequently QoL.

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery Compared to Medical Therapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The adverse implications of obesity extend beyond physical health to include negative impact on quality of life (QoL), mood, and eating habits. While bariatric surgery provides successful weight loss and metabolic benefits, studies describe conflicting results on QoL and mood-related outcomes. Patients (n = 140) with class II/III obesity and T2DM were recruited from 2015 to 2019, and stratified based on medical or surgical treatment. Questionnaires including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Euro QoL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and Revised 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) were recorded at baseline, 6months, and 12months after treatment. At baseline, the surgical group (n = 55) and medical group (n = 85) had no significant difference in questionnaire outcomes. At 6 and 12months, EQ-VAS was higher in the surgical group (12months surgical 82.00 ± 12.64, medical 72.81 ± 16.56, p = 0.001), with greater improvement from baseline. HADS-D scores at 12months were lower in the surgical group (surgical 2.60 ± 2.88, medical 3.90 ± 3.58, p = 0.025). At 12months, the surgical group also had better TFEQ-R21 scores, with higher cognitive restraint scores (surgical 19.09 ± 3.00, medical 16.69 ± 3.61, p < 0.001), and lower scores for uncontrolled eating (surgical 14.96 ± 3.87, medical 17.89 ± 5.34, p = 0.001). In the treatment of patients with obesity and T2DM, bariatric surgery resulted in improved QoL outcomes at 12months compared to medical therapy. This could be related to improvement in weight and metabolic outcomes, and altered gut-brain axis communication. This is the first prospective study assessing the impact of bariatric surgery on health-related QoL in Asia compared against a control group who received medical therapy.

Association Between Sarcopenia and Quality of Life in Patients with Early Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Cognitive impairment is linked to decreased quality of life (QOL), but few studies have investigated the impact of comorbid sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of sarcopenia with QOL in patients with early dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Individuals with a Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5 or 1 and a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 20-30 underwent a battery of neuropsychological assessments administered by a group of well-trained clinical psychologists. The EQ-5D was completed by both the patients and their main caregivers. EQ-5D utility and visual analog scale scores were measured. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria published in the 2019 consensus update by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia had significantly lower scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test and Trail Making Test Part A. There was a significant negative association between sarcopenia and both self- and proxy-rated EQ-5D utility scores independent of potential confounding factors. However, there was no association between QOL visual analog scale scores and sarcopenia. Given that sarcopenia is often found in individuals with cognitive impairment, early detection by timely screening and effective intervention may help to maintain or improve QOL in this population. However, this study could not determine whether reduced QOL is a direct consequence of sarcopenia.

Quality of life (QoL) and self-reported function with ripretinib in ≥4th-line therapy for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): Analyses from INVICTUS.

11535 Background: Ripretinib is a novel switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that broadly inhibits KIT and PDGFRA kinase signaling through a dual mechanism of action. In INVICTUS (NCT03353753), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ripretinib in ≥4th-line advanced GIST, ripretinib reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 85% vs placebo and had a favorable overall safety profile in patients previously treated with ≥3 prior TKIs. Methods: As part of the INVICTUS trial, patient reported outcome (PRO) measures were collected using EQ-5D-5L (EQ5D) and EORTC QLQ-C30 (C30). In prespecified and additional analyses, ANCOVA models were built to compare changes from baseline to cycle 2 day 1 (C2D1) for PRO measures within the ripretinib and placebo arms and determine the difference between treatment arms. PRO measures included the EQ5D visual analogue scale (VAS) and the C30 physical functioning (PF) and role functioning (RF) scales (all scores range from 0–100; higher scores are better). The C30 overall health and overall QoL questions were also assessed (scores range from 1–7; higher scores are better). Fixed effects included treatment arm, number of previous anticancer treatments (3 vs ≥4), and ECOG score at baseline (0 vs 1/2). Results: Overall, 129 patients were randomized and 128 received treatment (85 to ripretinib 150 mg QD; 43 to placebo). All PRO p-values are nominal, and no statistical significance is being claimed. VAS scores improved an average 3.7 points from baseline to C2D1 with ripretinib vs an average decline of 8.9 with placebo (P = 0.004; improvement or no change, 67% vs 41% of patients, respectively). Similarly, the average PF score improved 1.6 points with ripretinib and decreased 8.9 with placebo (P = 0.004; improvement or no change, 68% vs 44%). RF scores also improved an average of 3.5 points with ripretinib vs a decrease of 17.1 with placebo (P = 0.001; improvement or no change, 77% vs 50%). For the overall health and overall QoL questions, scores increased with ripretinib an average of 0.20 and 0.28, respectively, and decreased 0.78 and 0.76 with placebo (both P = 0.001; improvement or no change, 74% vs 47% and 79% vs 59%, respectively). Conclusions: Based on the 5 PRO measures assessed, when compared with placebo and best supportive care, ripretinib provided patient-benefit in advanced GIST with PRO measures of role and physical function, VAS, overall health, and overall QoL remaining stable. Clinical trial information: NCT03353753 .

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Scores of Patients Undergoing Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores are required for cost-effectiveness and health-care value analysis. We evaluated HRQoL scores and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis treated with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty to establish values of HRQoL scores that can be used for cost-effectiveness and value analysis and to assess relationships between HRQoL scores and shoulder and upper-extremity PROMs. We analyzed 143 patients (143 shoulders) with glenohumeral osteoarthritis treated with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty; 92 patients had 1-year follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for shoulder pain and function. Health utility was assessed with the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), Short Form-6 Dimensions (SF-6D), and VAS Quality of Life (VAS QoL). HRQoL score validity was determined through correlations between the PROMs and HRQoL scores. The responsiveness of HRQoL scores was measured through the effect size and the standardized response mean. There were significant improvements in all PROMs and HRQoL scores (p < 0.001) at 1 year after the surgical procedure. The changes in VAS QoL (very weak to moderate), EQ-5D (weak), and SF-6D (weak) were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the changes in PROMs, demonstrating comparably acceptable validity. There were large effect sizes in the VAS QoL (1.843), EQ-5D (1.186), and SF-6D (1.084) and large standardized response mean values in the VAS QoL (1.622), EQ-5D (1.230), and SF-6D (1.083), demonstrating responsiveness. The effect sizes of all PROMs were larger than those of the HRQoL scores. PROMs and HRQoL scores are not interchangeable, and studies of the cost-effectiveness and value of shoulder arthroplasty should incorporate both shoulder and upper-extremity PROMs and HRQoL scores. The findings of this study provide data on HRQoL scores that are specific to the treatment of advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty and can be used for future cost-effectiveness and value analysis studies. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Scores of Patients Undergoing Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores are required for cost-effectiveness and health-care value analysis. We evaluated HRQoL scores and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis treated with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty to establish values of HRQoL scores that can be used for cost-effectiveness and value analysis and to assess relationships between HRQoL scores and shoulder and upper-extremity PROMs. We analyzed 145 patients (145 shoulders) with glenohumeral osteoarthritis treated with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty; 93 patients had 1-year follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for shoulder pain and function. Health utility was assessed with the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), Short Form-6 Dimensions (SF-6D), and VAS Quality of Life (VAS QoL). HRQoL score validity was determined through correlations between the PROMs and HRQoL scores. The responsiveness of HRQoL scores was measured through the effect size and the standardized response mean. There were significant improvements in all PROMs and HRQoL scores (p < 0.001) at 1 year after the surgical procedure. The changes in VAS QoL and EQ-5D were significantly correlated (weak to moderate) with the changes in all PROMs except the SST, demonstrating comparably acceptable validity. The VAS QoL had a large effect size (1.833) and standardized response mean (1.603), and the EQ-5D also had a large effect size (1.163) and standardized response mean (1.228), demonstrating responsiveness. The effect sizes of all PROMs were larger than those of the HRQoL scores. The change in SF-6D had only a moderate effect size and standardized response mean and was not significantly correlated with the change in any of the PROMs. PROMs and HRQoL scores are not interchangeable, and studies of the cost-effectiveness and value of shoulder arthroplasty should incorporate both shoulder and upper-extremity PROMs and HRQoL scores. The findings of this study provide data on HRQoL scores that are specific to the treatment of advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis with anatomic total shoulder replacement and can be used for future cost-effectiveness and value analysis studies. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Total femoral replacement for treating femur malignant tumor

To investigate the procedure and effectiveness of total femoral replacement for treating femur malignant tumor. The clinical data of 9 patients with femoral malignant tumors who underwent total femoral replacement between July 2013 and March 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 4 females, aged 16-75 years with an average of 44.8 years. The disease duration ranged from 2 to 6 months with an average of 3.5 months. There were 5 cases of osteosarcoma (3 cases were staged as Enneking ⅡB, 2 cases were staged as Enneking Ⅲ), 1 case of malignant fibrosarcoma (staged as Enneking ⅡB), 1 case of chondrosarcoma (staged as Enneking ⅠB), 2 cases of femoral muti-metastasis of lung cancer with pathological fracture. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the quality of life (QOL) score of the tumor patients were evaluated before operation and at 3 months after operation. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and Harris hip score (HHS) were evaluated at last follow-up. Nine patients were followed up 11-58 months, with an average of 21 months. No complication such as wound infection, joint dislocation, and nerve injury occurred. One patient developed popliteal vein thrombosis, and 2 patients with osteosarcoma died of tumor progression. The VAS score and QOL score at 3 months after operation were 3.2±1.2 and 40.6±5.4 respectively, which were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (5.9±0.8 and 22.3±4.2 respectively) ( t=11.314, P=0.000; t=-7.794, P=0.000). At last follow-up, the MSTS score was 15-29 with an average of 21.1, and the HHS score was 44-90 with an average of 66.5. Total femoral replacement is an effective limb salvage procedure for the treatment of femoral malignant tumors, which can effectively restore the weight-bearing and walking function, relieve pain, and improve the quality of life.