Study 36-Item Short Form Research Articles

Patient-reported outcomes in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patient-reported outcomes in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adult Measures of General Health and Health-Related Quality of Life.

s was very high (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.996). Any disagreements were resolved through a discussion between all authors. Given the large number of potentially relevant measures identified, only those measures that were used at least 4 times in the screened abstracts were selected for this review. Consequently, this report provides reviews of 4 generic health profiles: the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 and Short Form 12 Health Surveys, the Nottingham Health Profile, and the Sickness Impact Profile, and 4 health utility measures: the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 6D, the Health Utilities Index Mark 3, Quality of Well-Being Scale (selfadministered), and the Assessment of Quality of Life Scale. Although the EuroQol 5-domain is also frequently used in rheumatology, the review of this measure is included in Measures of Disability article in this issue. MEDICAL OUTCOMES STUDY SHORT FORM 36-ITEM (SF-36) AND SHORT FORM 12-ITEM (SF-12) HEALTH SURVEYS

Multiple factor analysis of depression in community-dwelling elderly residents in Beijing: A cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate the mental states of the community-dwelling elderly in Beijing, and to explore their relationship with depression using multivariate analysis, in order to provide evidence for strategies to prevent depression in the elderly. Methods A total of 400 community elderly residents in Chaoyang District of Beijing were recruited in this cross-sectional study.The mental states of older adults were assessed by using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), the Medical Outcomes Study(Mos)36-item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36), and the Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS). The correlations of the mental state with demographic data, quality of life and social support were examined via multivariate analysis. Results Of 400 questionnaires, 364 were valid.Depression occurred in 64 older adults, and the detection rate was 17.6%(64/364). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that depression was closely correlated with age(P=0.049), physiological function(P=0.009), vitality(P=0.028), mental health(P<0.001), self-reported health transition(P=0.003), objective support(P=0.001)and subjective support(P=0.001)in community-dwelling elderly residents in Beijing.Bivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that five factors, including vitality(OR=0.595, P=0.036), mental health(OR=0.548, P=0.021), self-reported health transition(OR=1.597, P=0.048), objective support(OR=0.524, P=0.018)and subjective support(OR=1.787, P=0.027), were influencing factors for depression in the elderly.Self-reported health transition and subjective support had the greatest impact on depression in the elderly. Conclusions Critical approaches to preventing depression in the elderly include a focus on the mental health and social needs as well as measures to enhance self-confidence in the health of these individuals. Key words: Depression; Quality of life; Social support

Evaluation of quality of life, physical, and mental aspects in longevous patients with chronic kidney disease.

The diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in elderly individuals has been increasing. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical, mental and social aspects in longevous elderly patients with CKD. Eighty patients with CKD (stage 4 and 5, not on dialysis) and 60 longevous elderly (≥80years) paired by gender and age living in the community were evaluated. Physical, cognitive, social and quality of life aspects were analyzed according to the following scales: Charlson comorbidity index, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item (SF-36), Medical Outcomes Study, Boston Naming Test, verbal fluency test (animal naming), sit-to-stand test, gait speed, and the Mini-Mental state examination. Compared to the control group, the CKD group had a higher mean in the comorbidities index (3.5±1.2 vs. 1.0±1, respectively, p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the CKD group presented worse performance in the SF-36 dimensions: 'physical functioning,' 'general health,' 'emotional functioning,' 'vitality,' and physical component summary. On the other hand, they presented better results for the 'mental health' dimension, in addition to lower social support, worse verbal fluency and worse results on the sit-to-stand test. Longevous patients with stage 4 or 5 CKD presented worse evaluation in several domains of physical and emotionalfunctioning, lower social support and evidence of worse cognitive performance. These aspects should be taken into account in order to improve the care provided to these patients, improve their quality of life and prevent their morbidity.

Correlation of SF-36 and SF-12 Component Scores in Patients With Diabetic Foot Disease

The assessment of patient outcomes is becoming increasingly important in all areas of medicine, including foot and ankle surgery. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item (SF-36) is widely used as a generic measure of quality of life; however, patients often find answering 36 questions cumbersome. Consequently, the Short Form 12 (SF-12) was developed. We hypothesized that the agreement between the SF-12 and SF-36 component scores would be substantial in patients with diabetic foot disease. We retrospectively reviewed the data from 300 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and foot and ankle pathology who completed the SF-36 questionnaire. Of the 300 patients, 155 (51.7%) had problems directly related to complications of DM and 145 (48.3%) had routine foot complaints that were unrelated to complications of DM. The 12 questions of the SF-12 were abstracted from the SF-36. The overall median score for the SF-36 physical component summary was 34.70 compared with the overall SF-12 physical component summary of 36.75 (p = .04). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.93688. The overall median score for the SF-36 mental component summary was 52.40 compared with the overall SF-12 mental component summary of 51.25 (p = .34). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.95449. Substantial agreement was observed when comparing the component scores of the SF-12 and the SF-36. From our study results of 300 patients with DM, it appears that the SF-36 and SF-12 are comparable outcome instruments for use with patients with diabetic foot disease.

Changes in body weight and health-related quality of life: 2 cohorts of US women.

Studies have shown that body weight is a determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, few studies have examined long-term weight change with changes in HRQoL. We followed 52,682 women aged 46-71 years in the Nurses' Health Study (in 1992-2000) and 52,587 women aged 29-46 years in the Nurses' Health Study II (in 1993-2001). Body weight was self-reported, HRQoL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study's 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and both were updated every 4 years. The relationship between changes in weight and HRQoL scores was evaluated at 4-year intervals by using a generalized linear regression model with multivariate adjustment for baseline age, ethnicity, menopausal status, and changes in comorbidities and lifestyle factors. Weight gain of 15 lbs (1 lb = 0.45 kg) or more over a 4-year period was associated with 2.05-point lower (95% confidence interval: 2.14, 1.95) physical component scores, whereas weight loss of 15 lbs or more was associated with 0.89-point higher (95% confidence interval: 0.75, 1.03) physical component scores. Inverse associations were also found between weight change and physical function, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health, and vitality. However, the relations of weight change with mental component scores, social functioning, mental health, and role limitations due to emotional problems were small.

Emotional symptoms and quality of life in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Limited evidence exists on the nature and degree of emotional problems in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and their association with patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This cross-sectional study examined the presence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and their association with disease-specific and generic HRQOL. A total of 101 patients (73% women) with PAH (age, 55.4 ± 16.4 years; 42.6% in New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II) completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, the generic Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item (SF-36) Health Survey, and the disease-specific Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) HRQOL instrument. The association between emotional problems and HRQOL was determined using multivariable linear regression analyses, controlling for demographic and disease-related characteristics. Of the patients, 32.6%, 48%, and 27.6% experienced depressive, anxiety or stress symptoms, respectively. HRQOL was >1 standard deviation below population norms for the SF-36 Physical Component Summary. Depressive symptoms, NYHA class, and being disabled explained 46% of the total variance of the MLHFQ. Emotional problems did not contribute to the SF-36 Physical Component Summary but explained part of the variance of the physical sub-scales of the SF-36 role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, and general health. The high presence of emotional problems warrants regular screening and appropriate psychotherapeutic and/or pharmacological treatment. Which strategies could improve PAH patients' HRQOL remains to be investigated.

Adult measures of general health and health‐related quality of life: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36‐Item (SF‐36) and Short Form 12‐Item (SF‐12) Health Surveys, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 6D (SF‐6D), Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), Quality of Well‐Being Scale (QWB), and Assessment of Quality of Life (AQOL)

tional well-being that is not specific to any disease. The health measures included in this review were further subdivided into generic health profiles (questionnaires that provide assessment of more than 1 dimension of health status) and health utility measures that provide an overall measure of health status rated between perfect health (1.0) and death (0.0). Relevant measures were identified (using medical subject headings [MeSH]) through a systematic search of medical publications indexed to PubMed database. The following search queries were used: [Quality of life (title) AND Outcomes assessment (MeSH terms) AND Rheumatic diseases (MeSH terms)] and [Quality of life (abstract) AND Outcomes assessment (MeSH terms) AND Rheumatic diseases (MeSH terms)]. In MeSH, “rheumatic diseases” are defined as “disorders of connective tissue, especially the joints and related structures, characterized by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement,” and in

Quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease

AIM:To compare the dimensions of quality of life in the stages of chronic kidney disease and the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data.INTRODUCTION:The information available on the quality of life of patients on conservative treatment and the relationship between the quality of life and glomerular filtration rate is limited.METHODS:155 patients in stages 1–5 of chronic kidney disease and 36 in hemodialysis were studied. Quality of life was rated by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item (SF-36) and functional status by the Karnofsky Performance Scale. Clinical, laboratory and sociodemographic variables were investigated.RESULTS:Quality of life decreased in all stages of kidney disease. A reduction in physical functioning, physical role functioning and in the physical component summary was observed progressively in the different stages of kidney disease. Individuals with higher educational level who were professionally active displayed higher physical component summary values, whereas men and those with a higher income presented better mental component summary values. Older patients performed worse on the physical component summary and better on the mental component summary. Hemoglobin levels correlated with higher physical component summary values and the Karnofsky scale. Three or more comorbidities had an impact on the physical dimension.CONCLUSION:Quality of life is decreased in renal patients in the early stages of disease. No association was detected between the stages of the disease and the quality of life. It was possible to establish sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory risk factors for a worse quality of life in this population.

Quality of life is improved by endoscopic surgery and fluticasone in nasal polyposis with asthma

Background: The aim was to investigate the health impact of nasal polyposis with asthma and to study effects of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), and addition of fluticasone propionate nasal drops (FPND), on health related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Prospective study of 68 patients with nasal polyposis and asthma. Effects were measured with Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 14-weeks phase measuring additive effects of FPND 400 µg twice daily (b.i.d.) was included. Results: HRQoL was significantly decreased in both Physical Component Summary, PCS, (45 vs 48, p=0.049) and Mental Component Summary, MCS, (43 vs 51, p&lt;0.001) vs reference population. ESS significantly improved PCS, (p=0.027) and MCS (p=0.021) after five weeks. We found significant additional benefit of FPND on three domains (RP, p=0.002; VT, p=0.007; SF, p=0.002). The increase in HRQoL with FPND reached reference population levels in all domains, as well as in both PCS (50, p=0.003) and MCS (52, p=0.002), five weeks after ESS. Conclusions: FPND 400 µg b.i.d. can be added to ESS in order to improve, and to reach population levels of, HRQoL already five weeks post-ESS. Physicians should evaluate HRQoL and consider ESS with nasal steroids early in their treatment of these patients.

Quality of life and subjective well-being in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Valid predictors of symptomatic response and remission?

Objectives. To examine quality of life and subjective well-being as predictors of symptomatic treatment outcome. Methods. Biweekly PANSS ratings were performed in 285 inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders within a multicenter trial by the German Research Network on Schizophrenia. Quality of life and subjective well-being were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-K) and the Adjective Mood Scale (AMS). Response was defined as an initial 20% PANSS total score reduction and remission according to the consensus criteria. Correlation analysis, logistic regression and CART-analysis were performed. Results. In total, 81% of the sample achieved symptom response and 48% symptom remission. The statistical analyses revealed early improvement within the first two treatment weeks in the SWN-K scale to be a significant predictor for symptomatic response. Concerning symptomatic remission the SF-36 and SWN-K baseline scores as well as SWN-K early improvement showed significant predictive value. Conclusions. These results highlight the importance of the patient's self-perception and especially of early improvement of quality of life and subjective well-being for symptomatic treatment outcome.

Quality of life is improved by endoscopic surgery and fluticasone in nasal polyposis with asthma

The aim was to investigate the health impact of nasal polyposis with asthma and to study effects of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), and addition of fluticasone propionate nasal drops (FPND), on health related quality of life (HRQoL). Prospective study of 68 patients with nasal polyposis and asthma. Effects were measured with Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 14-weeks phase measuring additive effects of FPND 400 µg twice daily (b.i.d.) was included. HRQoL was significantly decreased in both Physical Component Summary, PCS, (45 vs 48, p=0.049) and Mental Component Summary, MCS, (43 vs 51, p<0.001) vs reference population. ESS significantly improved PCS, (p=0.027) and MCS (p=0.021) after five weeks. We found significant additional benefit of FPND on three domains (RP, p=0.002; VT, p=0.007; SF, p=0.002). The increase in HRQoL with FPND reached reference population levels in all domains, as well as in both PCS (50, p=0.003) and MCS (52, p=0.002), five weeks after ESS. FPND 400 µg b.i.d. can be added to ESS in order to improve, and to reach population levels of, HRQoL already five weeks post-ESS. Physicians should evaluate HRQoL and consider ESS with nasal steroids early in their treatment of these patients.

Influence of Knee Osteoarthritis on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Obese Adults

The objective was to determine whether knee osteoarthritis (OA) reduces exercise ambulatory capacity and impairs quality of life (QOL) in obese individuals. There were 56 subjects, with and without knee OA, who were obese. The subjects were evaluated with anthropometric measurements, a body composition assessment, maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), perceived exertion (RPE), self-reported disability [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)], and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36). VO2peak was significantly higher in the controls when compared with the patients (mean +/- standard deviation, 1.584 +/- 0.23 L/kg per min vs. 0.986 +/- 0.20 L/kg per min; p < 0.001). Obese subjects without knee OA walked a significantly longer distance in the 6-MWT than obese patients with knee OA (p < 0.001). We also observed significant negative correlation between VO2max and RPE, WOMAC pain and physical limitation, and bodily pain and general health domains of short-form 36. Knee OA reduces exercise and ambulatory capacity and impairs QOL in obese individuals. RPE, WOMAC pain, and SF-36 items might provide information about exercise capacity in the obese subjects with knee OA. Our study confirms that exercise capacity and QOL might be improved by energetic and intensive treatment of pain resulting from knee OA.

Patient-reported quality of life after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: A prospective comparison of endovascular and open repair

This study evaluated and compared changes over time in health-related quality of life reported by patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) undergoing elective endovascular (EVAR) and open aneurysm (OR) repair. A prospective, nonrandomized cohort of 76 patients (62 men, 14 women; age range, 42 to 89 years) undergoing elective, infrarenal AAA repair (EVAR, n = 43; OR, n = 33) at two university teaching hospitals during a 15-month period were administered the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-item (SF-36) health survey preoperatively and then 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, procedural details, postoperative follow-up data, and SF-36 scores were compared between groups. Both groups had total SF-36 scores that were significantly lower than preoperative scores at 1 week and 1 month after surgery but were not significantly different from the preoperative scores at 6 months (OR 66.2 +/- 21.1 to 72.3 +/- 19.8, P > .1; and EVAR 61.0 +/- 17.7 to 58.7 +/- 19.4, P > .1). Six-month total SF-36 scores were significantly higher in the OR group compared with the EVAR group (mean 72.3 +/- 19.8 OR vs 58.7 +/- 19.4 EVAR; P = .009). In the postoperative period, a significant drop occurred in mean scores in six of the eight domains of the SF-36 in the OR patients (physical function, PF; role physical, RP; bodily pain, BP; vitality, VT; social function, SF; role emotional, RE) and five domains for EVAR patients (PF, RP, BP, SF, RE). In two domains, RE and PF, scores returned to baseline values significantly sooner in EVAR patients than in OR patients (RE, EVAR 1 month vs OR 6 months; and PF, EVAR 1 month vs OR 6 months). In the VT domain, no significant postoperative drop occurred in the EVAR group, but in the OR group, mean scores were significantly lower at 1 week and 1 month compared with preoperative values. In the domains of general health and mental health, no significant drop occurred in SF-36 score postoperatively in either group. Patient reported health-related quality of life after infrarenal AAA repair is significantly impaired in the early postoperative period but returns to baseline by 6 months in patients treated with EVAR and OR. Patients having EVAR had significantly more rapid return to preoperative scores in selected domains of the SF-36. Even though EVAR is associated with shorter and less invasive perioperative hospital course and fewer postoperative complications, EVAR patients had lower quality of life scores 6 months after surgery than OR patients.

Relationship between self-reported depression and self-reported visual function in Latinos.

To validate and assess the relationship between self-reported depression as measured by a single item on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and self-reported visual function. The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study is population-based and designed to assess the prevalence of visual impairment, ocular disease, and visual functioning in Latinos. Both the 25-item National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) (self-reported visual function) and the SF-12 (health-related quality of life) were administered. A single item from the SF-12 was used to measure self-reported depression and validated against the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression measure of depression. Covariate-adjusted NEI VFQ-25 subscale scores were contrasted across the 6 response choices of the SF-12, as well as across 3 combined response categories of the SF-12 using analysis of covariance. Covariate-adjusted regression analyses assessed the contribution of self-reported depression in explaining self-reported visual function. The sensitivity and specificity of the SF-12 single item with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression measure was 0.96 and 0.50, respectively. Using the 3 combined response categories of the SF-12 single item, it was found that (1) all covariate-adjusted subscales of the NEI VFQ-25 were statistically significantly different across the self-reported depression categories (P<.001) and (2) covariate-adjusted self-reported depression was a significant predictor of self-reported visual function (P<.001). A single SF-12 item may be used as a measure of self-reported depression. In addition, self-reported depression is an important covariate to consider when assessing self-reported visual function in Latinos.

Physical functioning and health-related quality-of-life changes with exercise training in hemodialysis patients

The Renal Exercise Demonstration Project was designed to test the effects of two different approaches to exercise programming on the levels of physical activity, physical functioning, and self-reported health status in hemodialysis patients. Two hundred eighty-six patients were recruited for participation. Intervention patients were given individually prescribed exercise for 8 weeks of independent home exercise, followed by 8 weeks of incenter cycling during dialysis. Physical performance testing was performed at baseline and after each intervention using gait speed, sit-to-stand test, and 6-minute walk. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item (SF-36) questionnaire was used to assess self-reported health status. The intervention group showed increased participation in physical activity. There were significant differences between the intervention and nonintervention groups in change over time in normal and fast gait speed, sit-to-stand test scores, and the physical scales on the SF-36, including the physical component scale. The intervention group improved in these test results, whereas the nonintervention group either did not change or declined over the duration of the study. It is clear that improvements in physical functioning result from exercise counseling and encouragement in hemodialysis patients. Because self-reported physical functioning is highly predictive of outcomes in hemodialysis patients, more attention to patients' levels of physical activity is warranted.

Measuring health status in older patients. The SF-36 in practice.

To examine the use of the Medical Outcomes Study short form 36-item (SF-36) health status measure in older patients receiving health care; to explore the influence of age and physical and cognitive status on response to and completion of the SF-36 questionnaire. Prospective observational study. Hospital and ambulatory patients aged 65 years and over in the medical and surgical wards and outpatient department of a teaching hospital and a local general practitioner's surgery. 1014 hospital inpatients, 80 hospital outpatients and 40 patients attending their general practitioner's surgery. Response rates, overall rates of completion (sufficient to calculate a valid SF-36 score) and completion of individual questions. 37 out of 40 ambulatory patients in general practice (93%) and 71 out of 80 outpatients (89%) returned a self-completed questionnaire. In hospital inpatients the overall response rate was only 46% (369 of 802). This was improved by interview administration to 77.4% (164 of 212). Logistic regression analysis revealed that self-completion, cognitive dysfunction, disability and age were all independently associated with poor overall response rates. Among those patients who returned a completed questionnaire, completion of individual questions sufficient to calculate a valid score was variable. Only 62.5% of inpatients who self-completed a questionnaire gave sufficient response to calculate a score on the mental health subscale, compared with 93.7% of general practice patients. The self-administered questionnaire is unacceptable for older hospital inpatients. Use of an interviewer improves response, but factors which influence health status, such as physical and cognitive dysfunction, have a significant effect on response rates. Therefore the utility of the SF-36 in its present form as a routine health status measure for use in older hospital inpatients is questioned.

Membership of the University of the Third Age (U3A) and perceived well-being

To study the perceived well-being of members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) a sample of 975 members with a mean age of 67.9 ± 6.98 years (range 50–94) was obtained from within the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Region and administered the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form 36-item (SF-36) health survey. The SF-36 assesses eight health concepts: limitations in physical activities because of health problems; limitations in social activities because of physical or emotional problems; limitations in usual role activities because of physical health problems; bodily pain; general mental health; limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problems; vitality; and general health perception. Comparisons were made with USA normative peer groups, and the U3A sample scored as well as, or better than, their American peers. It is concluded that members of U3A had better-than-average general, physical and mental health, and that membership of U3A can, even in the very elderly, assist in conferring a much more positive perception of well-being.