Trends In Quality Of Life Research Articles

Trends in Subjective Quality of Life Among Patients With First Episode Psychosis-A 1 Year Longitudinal Study.

Quality of life (QoL) is often used as an outcome assessment in programs treating patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal trend of subjective QoL among patients with FEP and identify the potential influence of patients' social-demographic/lifestyle factors on the trend of QoL. Two hundred and eighty subjects participated in the study. Patient's demographics and subjective QoL were collected at baseline, 6 months and 1 year follow-up. Data were analyzed with a fixed-effect general linear regression model. Subjective QoL demonstrated significant trends of improvement in all four subdomains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment). Compared with unemployed participants, employed participants were significantly associated with better social relationships (p = 0.005) and environment (p = 0.029) after adjusting for age and gender. Moderation analysis demonstrated a significant improvement of physical health, social relationships, and environment for participants with a higher level of educational achievement, but not for participants with a lower level of educational achievement. Our results indicate that patients with FEP experienced significant improvement in subjective QoL over a 1 year period. Being employed was associated with overall better social relationships and environment among patients with FEP and higher educational achievement was associated with improvement of physical health, social relationship, and environment. Hence, educational achievement and employment could be considered for future optimization of early psychosis intervention programs.

Quality of Life Trends in People With and Without Cancer Referred to Volunteer-Provided Palliative Care Services (ELSA): A Longitudinal Study

ContextTrends in symptoms and functional ability are known toward the end of life, but less is understood about quality of life, particularly prospectively following service referral. ObjectivesThis study compares quality of life trajectories of people with and without cancer, referred to volunteer-provided palliative care services. MethodsA secondary analysis of the ELSA trial (n = 85 people with cancer and n = 72 without cancer) was performed. Quality of life data (WHOQOL-BREF) were collected at baseline (referral), four weeks, eight weeks, and 12 weeks. Sociodemographic data were collected at baseline. We specified a series of joint models to estimate differences on quality of life trajectories between groups adjusting for participants who die earlier in the study. ResultsPeople with cancer had a significantly better quality of life at referral to the volunteer-provided palliative care services than those with nonmalignant disease despite similar demographic characteristics (Cohen d's = 0.37 to 0.45). More people with cancer died during the period of the study. We observed significant differences in quality of life physical and environmental domain trajectories between groups (b = −2.35, CI −4.49, −0.21, and b = −4.11, CI −6.45, −1.76). People with cancer experienced a greater decline in quality of life than those with nonmalignant disease. ConclusionReferral triggers for those with and without cancer may be different. People with cancer can be expected to have a more rapid decline in quality of life from the point of service referral. This may indicate greater support needs, including from volunteer-provided palliative care services.

Quality of life of elderly patients with solid tumours undergoing adjuvant cancer therapy: a systematic review

ObjectivesThe measurement of quality of life (QoL) in elderly cancer population is increasingly being recognised as an important element of clinical decision-making and the evaluation of treatment outcome. This systematic...

Exercise and quality of life after first-ever ischaemic stroke: a two-year follow-up study

ABSTRACTBackground: Quality of life (QoL) post-stroke is an important health outcome. Physical deconditioning and physical inactivity are highly prevalent in stroke survivors. This study aimed to assess the long-term trends in QoL and to explore the effect of exercise on the QoL of ischaemic stroke patients. Methods: Data for this prospective study were collected at baseline using face-to-face interviews, and telephone follow-ups were completed every three months from 2010 through 2014. QoL was evaluated with the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). The relationship between changes in exercise and QoL changes was analysed with a multi-level model.Results: Exercise and QoL generally increased during the study period. After adjusting for covariates, the SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores increased by 0.60 on average for each unit increase in exercise frequency and by 0.52 for each hour increase in weekly exercise time. For weekly exercise times ≤ 22.73 h, the PCS scores continued to increase with increasing exercise time. The Mental Component Summary scores increased by 0.51 on average for each unit increase in exercise frequency and by 0.35 for each hour increase in weekly exercise time. Furthermore, the standard deviations of exercise frequency and exercise time were inversely associated with changes in the PCS score.Conclusions: Exercise is an important modifiable behaviour. Long-term regular mild exercise should be recommended to improve QoL among stroke survivors.

Active music therapy approach for stroke patients in the post-acute rehabilitation.

Guidelines in stroke rehabilitation recommend the use of a multidisciplinary approach. Different approaches and techniques with music are used in the stroke rehabilitation to improve motor and cognitive functions but also psychological outcomes. In this randomized controlled pilot trial, relational active music therapy approaches were tested in the post-acute phase of disease. Thirty-eight hospitalized patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were recruited and allocated in two groups. The experimental group underwent the standard of care (physiotherapy and occupational therapy daily sessions) and relational active music therapy treatments. The control group underwent the standard of care only. Motor functions and psychological aspects were assessed before and after treatments. Music therapy process was also evaluated using a specific rating scale. All groups showed a positive trend in quality of life, functional and disability levels, and gross mobility. The experimental group showed a decrease of anxiety and, in particular, of depression (p=0.016). In addition, the strength of non-dominant hand (grip) significantly increased in the experimental group (p=0.041). Music therapy assessment showed a significant improvement over time of non-verbal and sonorous-music relationships. Future studies, including a greater number of patients and follow-up evaluations, are needed to confirm promising results of this study.

Physical and Psychological Well-Being in Overweight Children Participating in a Long-Term Intervention Based on Judo Practice

There is an increase of inactivity and overweight in children and adolescents which has a negative impact on their physical, motoric, emotional and cognitive development. This study examines changes in physical fitness and psychological well-being after participation in an intervention program offering a weekly professionally guided judo practice especially for overweight and obese children and adolescents. 26 overweight or obese children and adolescents (age 7 - 14) completed on average 28 sessions of judo training over a course of 12 months. Subjects completed a physical examination (stability, body composition, leg strength) and an assessment of psychological well-being (health-related quality of life, mental health problems) prior to entering the study, after 6 months and after completion of the training. We found significant changes in stability (p < .001), fat free mass (p = .001), leg strength (left p = .022, right p = .019), mental health problems (p < .001), conduct problems (p < .001) and peer problems (p < .001) and a trend in health-related quality of life (p = .055). Participants that dropped out (n = 12) showed a significantly higher BMI (p = .018) and higher scores in peer problems (p = .004). This study indicates that judo practice could have an influence on physical and psychological variables in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Judo provides a way to introduce regular physical activity among overweight and obese children and adolescents to support a more active lifestyle. We observed significant changes in physical fitness and psychological well-being in obese children after one year of judo practice. Approaches to support obese children in developing a more active lifestyle are of great significance.

Patient-Reported Quality of Life before and after Stopping Treatment in the ENESTop Trial of Treatment-Free Remission for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase

Patient-Reported Quality of Life before and after Stopping Treatment in the ENESTop Trial of Treatment-Free Remission for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase

Assessment of quality of life in advanced, metastatic prostate cancer: an overview of randomized phase III trials.

The chief therapeutic goal in metastatic prostate cancer is prolongation of survival with good quality of life . Quality of life (health-related) is often used as an endpoint parameter in phase III trials in metastatic prostate cancer, but the value of using HRQOL in this context has not been assessed to date. In order to evaluate the role of HRQOL assessment in contemporary phase III trials in prostate cancer, we searched the PubMed database to identify publications presenting the results of these trials on systemic therapies for prostate cancer published between January 2000 and December 2015. The analysis was separately presented in ten leading journals. We searched for companion papers reporting on QOL separately. We identified 84 studies which included a total of 57,193 patients in ten leading journals and 27 studies (7270 patients) in other journals. HRQOL parameters were described or mentioned in the main publication in 25 publications and four companions in total. There was no obvious trend in quality of life reported over two 8-year periods . The explicit statistical comparisons were reported in 22/25 cases (88%), with significant difference in only 10/25 (40%) studies and in eight cases (80%) was conducive to the examined arm. There was no significant association between improvements in HRQOL and improvements in overall survival (OS) or any other primary endpoint in the analyzed studies. Only one study was found which presented the difference in quality of life with no difference in the primary endpoint. HRQOL is an indicator of benefit during treatment of patients with metastatic prostate cancer, but it is unlikely that HRQOL results can help clinicians choose between treatments given that they are not correlated with changes in OS or at other primary endpoints.

Intervention to Improve Quality of life for African-AmericaN lupus patients (IQAN): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a unique a la carte intervention approach to self-management of lupus in African Americans.

BackgroundSystemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can impact any organ system and result in life-threatening complications. African-Americans are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality from lupus. Self-management programs have demonstrated significant improvements in health distress, self-reported global health, and activity limitation among people with lupus. Despite benefits, arthritis self-management education has reached only a limited number of people. Self-selection of program could improve such trends. The aim of the current study is to test a novel intervention to improve quality of life, decrease indicators of depression, and reduce perceived and biological indicators of stress in African-American lupus patients in South Carolina.Methods/DesignIn a three armed randomized, wait list controlled trial, we will evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-centered ‘a–la-carte’ approach that offers subjects a variety of modes of interaction from which they can choose as many or few as they wish, compared to a ‘set menu’ approach and usual care. This unique ‘a-la-carte’ self-management program will be offered to 50 African-American lupus patients participating in a longitudinal observational web-based SLE Database at the Medical University of South Carolina. Each individualized intervention plan will include 1–4 options, including a mail-delivered arthritis kit, addition and access to an online message board, participation in a support group, and enrollment in a local self-management program. A ‘set menu’ control group of 50 lupus patients will be offered a standardized chronic disease self-management program only, and a control group of 50 lupus patients will receive usual care. Outcomes will include changes in (a) health behaviors, (b) health status, (c) health care utilization, and (d) biological markers (urinary catecholamines).DiscussionSuch a culturally sensitive educational intervention which includes self-selection of program components has the potential to improve disparate trends in quality of life, disease activity, depression, and stress among African-American lupus patients, as better outcomes have been documented when participants are able to choose/dictate the content and/or pace of the respective treatment/intervention program. Since there is currently no “gold standard” self-management program specifically for lupus, this project may have a considerable impact on future research and policy decisions.Trial registrationNCT01837875; April 18, 2013

Russian Northwest: An integral Assessment of the Conditions of Regional Social, Environmental and Economic Systems and Quality of Life

87 The article describes the results of an integral assessment of the regional social, environmental and economic systems (SEES) and the quality of life (QOL) in the regions of Russia’s Northwestern Federal District (NWFD). This work aims to give an integrated assessment of SEES in the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions in comparison to the Moscow region. The authors examine the QOL in 10 NWFD regions, including the Baltic ones. The significance of the research work lies in an integrated and comprehensive assessment of the regional SEES and QOL in 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2013 in view of the effect of priorities within and between groups of assessment parameters. Another important result is the identification of ‘stability limits’, when regions retain their QOL whereas their regional environmental characteristics change. The proposed methodology is based on multi-criteria and integrated approaches, the composite indicator method, and the method of parameter analysis and synthesis in the conditions of information deficit (IASID). The assessment of SEES and QOL was performed for five classes (from ‘1 — high’ to ‘5 — poor’) based on calculating statistics for 3—6 groups of assessment criteria at two levels of convolution. The analysis of the data obtained shows an upward trend in QOL in the regions. The authors suggest assessing stability of SEES on the basis of critical values of aggregate indices, at which a given SEES maintains its characteristics and regime properties within a certain QOL class.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After Extensive (Ultraradical) Surgery for Ovarian Cancer: Results From a Prospective Longitudinal Feasibility Study.

Extensive (ultraradical) surgery may facilitate complete cytoreduction in ovarian cancer with potential survival benefit but with greater morbidity. Currently, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from such surgery are unknown. We conducted the Surgery in Ovarian Cancer Quality of life Evaluation Research study (SOCQER 1), a prospective study investigating the feasibility of collection of serial PROs in patients who had extensive surgery and standard surgery for ovarian cancer. Ninety-three patients were recruited for 33 months to complete serial PRO assessments using the validated EORTC QLQ-C30 and the ovarian cancer-specific QLQ-OV28 questionnaires preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and at 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. Aletti Surgical Complexity Score of 3 or lower was considered standard surgery; a Surgical Complexity Score of 4 or higher was considered extensive surgery. Prospective data collection was obtained from the hospital electronic database, including patient demographics, American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade, preoperative serum CA125 and albumin levels, chemotherapy regimen, and surgical morbidity. Three cohorts of patients--32 benign, 32 undergoing standard surgery, and 24 undergoing extensive surgery--completed the questionnaires. Median questionnaire completion rate in this study was 64%, demonstrating the feasibility of longitudinal quality of life (QoL) assessment after surgery. Patient-reported outcomes revealed a falling trend in QoL in the short-term (6 weeks-3 months) after surgery, which gradually returned to baseline at 6 to 9 months; this trend was more marked after extensive surgery. This study provides useful insight into the impact of extensive surgery on patients. Further multicenter studies are needed to evaluate the impact of extensive surgery on patient's QoL and survival.

Health-related quality of life in patients with advanced prostate cancer undergoing treatment with TRIPTOrelin Pamoate SIX month formulation: Results of the non-interventional TRIPTOSIX study.

287 Background: Preserving quality of life (QoL) is an important therapeutic aim in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). The effects of treatment on QoL were studied in a non-interventional study performed from 2010 until 2012 evaluating 1 year of treatment with a LHRH agonist, triptorelin pamoate 6-month depot (TP 6M). Methods: Data of 564 patients with advanced PCa treates in 129 German urology outpatient clinics were analysed. Data on QoL were collected by EORTC questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and -PR25) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. The QLQ-C30 assesses functional QoL, global health and symptoms of disease, the QLQ-PR25 covers PCa specific symptoms and sexual activity. A clinically relevant improvement, i.e. increase of ≥10 points in the QLQ-C30 global health status/QoL scale, defined treatment responders. Response at month 6 compared to baseline was the primary study endpoint. Results: GlobalHealth Related (HR) QoL was similar over the 1 year follow-up period with a mean (± SD) score of 60.9 (±21.8) at baseline and 61.7 (±22.2) at 12 months. Within the first 6 months, 24.0% of patients were identified as responders (i.e. a clinically relevant improvement in this parameter of ≥10 points). The responder rate was maintained at 12 months of treatment (25.5%). This trend in QoL was also seen in the QLQ-C30 subscales, which were generally similar over the study period. QLQ-PR25 scores were also found to be similar over 1 year, although some deterioration was reported by sexually active patients, as expected. Subgroup analyses on response rates identified age, risk group, pretreatment for PCa and baseline QoL scores as predictors of change in QoL. Conclusions: Treatment with TP 6M over 12 months is associated with few changes in HRQoL and might lead in some patients to clinically meaningful improvements of HRQoL.

Trends in self-reported health related quality of life among obese individuals with age

premium). All participants will initially be shown a short promotional trailer for a current children’s movie followed by an advertisement for a McDonald’s Happy Meal associated with the same movie (Conditions 2—4) or an advertisement for a children’s leisure activity (Control condition). Participants will then be shown their two meals on screen and asked to choose their preferred meal. They will also complete detailed ratings of each of these meals. Results: This study is currently in the field (n = 680 cases completed so far). By the time of the conference, data collection will be complete and preliminary results will be available for presentation. For the analyses, logistic regression will be used to test whether the proportion of students choosing the unhealthy meal over the healthy meal varies as a function of the inclusion of a movie tie-in premium. ANOVA will be used to test mean differences in ratings of the unhealthy and healthy meals by condition. Conclusion: Results will inform a potential regulatory model whereby movie tie-in premiums would not be permitted to accompany unhealthy fast-food meals and/or the potential for premiums to only be permitted to accompany healthy fast-food meals.

Did the health of the Dutch population improve between 2001 and 2008? Investigating age- and gender-specific trends in quality of life.

Although many countries' populations have experienced increasing life expectancy in recent decades, quality of life (QoL) trends in the general population have yet to be investigated. This paper investigates whether QoL changed for the general Dutch population over the period 2001-2008. A beta regression model was employed to address specific features of the QoL distribution (i.e., boundedness, skewness, and heteroskedasticity), as well non-linear age and time trends. Quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) was calculated by combining model estimates of mean QoL with mortality rates provided by Statistics Netherlands. Changes in QALE were decomposed into those changes caused by QoL changes and those caused by mortality-rate changes. The results revealed a significant increase in QoL over 2001-2008 for both genders and most ages. For example, QALE for a man/woman aged 20 was found to have increased by 2.3/1.9 healthy years, of which 0.6/0.8 was due to QoL improvements.

487P - Survival and Quality of Life Data from the Act One Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase Ii Study of Espindolol for the Treatment and Prevention of Cachexia in Patients with Stage III / Iv Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Aim: Neurohormonal overactivity is implicated in the progression of cachexia and BBs are proposed as a potential therapy. Retrospective studies suggest that s-blockers (BBs) may have a beneficial effect on survival in cancer patients but to date randomised prospective data has been lacking. These effects may depend upon the receptor specificities of the BB used and espindolol (eP) has been shown in preclinical studies to have superior effects compared to other BBs. Methods: 87 subjects with stage III or IV NSCLC or CRC who met a consensus definition of cachexia (including weight loss >5% in 12 months) were recruited. Excessive weight loss and significant pre-existing cardiac disease were exclusion criteria. Subjects were randomised 3:1:2 to high dose eP (HD = 10mg bd), low dose eP (LD = 2.5 mg bd) or placebo (P) and treated for 16 weeks. EQ-5D was assessed at days 0, 28, 55, 84 and 112. Survival was monitored to the date of last subject last visit. Results: Baseline characteristics, tolerability, weight change and functional improvement data have all been presented previously (1).There were no statistically significant differences or trends in quality of life as measured by the EQ-5D instrument on any individual parameter, the VAS score or the EQ-5D Index (using UK TTO value set). Median overall survival was longer for treated subjects (HD = 61.0 wks; LD = 50.9 wks; P = 42.3 wks) and the % of responders (alive and without weight loss at day 112) was higher (HD = 43.33% vs P = 24%) but these differences were not statistically significant. This new data is supportive of the previously presented data showing statistically significant weight gain and functional improvement for eP treated subjects. Conclusions: This study provides the first prospective randomised data on the effect of a BB on survival in cancer patients and is consistent with previously reported retrospective data. This new data for eP is also consistent with the previously reported data on weight gain and functional improvement in cancer cachexia patients. Disclosure: J. Beadle: I am a Director, an office bearer, an Employee and a stock owner; A. Coats: I am a paid consultant and a stock owner; R. Brown: I am an employee and a stock owner; S. Anker: I am a paid consultant and stock owner.All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Trends in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and income over time in older adults with and without cancer: Evidence from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER–MHOS) linked database.

9603 Background: The impact of cancer diagnosis (dx) on the financial health and HRQoL of older adults is not well understood. The goal of this study was to explore longitudinal changes in HRQoL an...

Development of Quality of Life Economic Indicators with Regard to the Environment

Quality of life is a very complex concept and is influenced by several factors, one of which is the quality of environment. Increase in quality of environment calls for greening of social development, awareness of all segments of society, legal and economic instruments, planning processes, but especially industrial and other economic sectors, as well as the local economy. At first glance it may seem that if the overall economic development of the country, in which the individual lives, is good it also ensures growing trend in quality of life. Unfortunately global experience does not confirm this argument. Countries with above average economic growth may have limited respect for human rights, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. The aim of this paper is to highlight the link between quality of life and environmental quality in 10 selected countries. We use the results of our own analysis; we base our research on the evaluation of selected indicators, which support our efforts. The aim is to highlight the development of human development index, environmental performance index and corruption perception index in selected countries

Quality of Life after Lacunar Stroke: The Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Study

We sought to describe the course and predictors of quality of life (QOL) after lacunar stroke. We hypothesized that there is a decline in QOL after recovery from lacunar stroke. The Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes is a clinical trial in lacunar stroke patients with annual assessments of QOL with the stroke-specific QOL score. The overall score was used and analyzed as a continuous variable (range 0-5). We fit linear mixed models to assess the trend in QOL over time, assuming linearity of time, and adjusted for demographics, medical risk factors, cognitive factors, and functional status in univariable and multivariable models. Among 2870 participants, mean age was 63.4years (SD 10.7), 63% were men, 51% White, 32% Hispanic, 36% had college education, 36% had diabetes, 89% had hypertension, and 10% had prior stroke. Mean poststroke Barthel Index (BI) score was 95.4 (assessed on average 6months after stroke). In the final multivariable model, there was an average increase in QOL of .6% per year, and factors associated with decline in QOL over time included age (-.0003 per year, P<.0001), any college education (-.0013 per year, .01), prior stroke (-.004 per year, P<.0001), and BI (-.0002 per year, P<.0001). In this clinical trial of lacunar stroke patients, there was a slight annual increase in QOL overall, and age, level of education, and prior stroke were associated with changes in QOL over time. Multiple strokes may cause decline in QOL over time in the absence of recurrent events.

A Simple Intervention Program Markedly Decreases Resource Utilization for Adolescents with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Purpose: IBS affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents, increasing school absenteeism and conferring an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide. Adolescents with IBS invariably become adults with IBS. Clinical treatments for adolescents with IBS have failed and management of IBS continues to incur staggering costs in the billions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an adolescent multidisciplinary intervention program on IBS resource utilization. Methods: Our interventional IBS program is a simple multidisciplinary behavioral therapy that consists of two 90-minute sessions using education, reassurance, dietary intervention, exercise instruction, and guided imagery. Cases were children and adolescents with IBS who participated in the intervention. Controls were children and adolescents at a nearby facility (Kaiser Walnut Creek) who qualified for referral but did not have access to the program. A retrospective chart review abstracted the number of physician visits with GI complaints to evaluate health care utilization patterns in both cases and controls for three years before and three years after the program. GI related imaging and overall medications were also measured for three years after the intervention. Selected participants (n=13) completed the 23-item Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, 5-point Descriptive Well-Being Scores, and Rome Criteria symptom visual Likert scale scores (0-9) before, immediately following and three months following participation in the program intervention. Results: The cases and controls were well matched for age, sex and number of GI-related visits per year in the three years preceding baseline and at baseline. In the three years following baseline, cases had significantly fewer visits (0.82 ± 1.50 visits/year) than the controls (1.93 ± 2.73 visits/year, p = 0.0031). Use of imaging remained constant in the controls but fell significantly by 50 percent in the cases after the class (p<0.003). Prescribed medications fell in the control and case intervention groups but the differences were not significant. In a subset of cases we showed a highly significant decrease in ROME scores (p<0.02) and an upward trend in quality of life (QOL) scores at three months post intervention. Conclusion: A simple intervention program significantly decreased health care utilization in adolescents with IBS for up to three years by decreasing the number of GI-related visits and imaging use. Symptoms improved significantly at three months in a subset of cases. This simple program can be reproduced in any facility and is likely to improve outcomes for future adult IBS patients resulting in significant cost savings.

Gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität und psychische Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland: Ergebnisse aus der deutschen HBSC-Studie 2006-2010

With medical advances, acute -disease in childhood and adolescence could be substantially reduced, thus shifting the focus towards chronic and mental health problems. Currently there is a lack of studies on trends in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental well-being and their determinants in the context of children's and adolescents' environment (e. g., family, school). The aim of this paper is to describe the trend in HRQoL in children and adolescents from 2006 to 2010 and to analyse factors associated with HRQoL and mental well-being of children and adolescents.Results are based on the German sample (11-, 13- and 15-year-old school children) of the international WHO Study from the 2006 (n=6 896) and 2010 (n=4 723) surveys. HRQoL was assessed by means of KIDSCREEN-10. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a screening instrument for mental health problems, was used as an indicator of mental health. Logistic regressions were performed to analyse the effects of covariates on HRQoL as well as on mental health problems.HRQoL remained fairly stable between 2006 and 2010 for both boys and girls. Approximately 85% of the school children report a high or normal HRQoL, whereby girls indicate a lower HRQoL than boys. Overall, 14,3% of the pupils show signs of mental health problems. The model results show that poor communication with parents, spending little time with friends, lack of perceived support from classmates and a negative attitude towards school are negatively associated with mental health.The majority of children and adolescents report a high HRQoL over time. The fact that every 7th 11- to 15-year-old shows signs of mental health problems raises concern and suggests that addressing mental health problems needs to gain more priority in public health measures.