Low health‐related quality of life is associated with all‐cause mortality in patients with diabetes on haemodialysis: the Japan Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Pattern Study

Aims Whether health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) can be accurately predicted in patients with extremely low HRQoL as a result of diabetic complications is unclear. We investigated the impact of HRQoL on mortality risk in patients with diabetes on haemodialysis. Methods Data from the Dialysis Outcomes Practice Pattern Study (DOPPS) were analysed for randomly selected patients receiving haemodialysis in Japan. Information regarding the diagnosis of diabetes and clinical events during follow‐up was abstracted from the medical records at baseline and HRQoL was assessed by a self‐reported short form (SF)‐36 questionnaire. The association between physical component score and mental component score in the SF‐36 and mortality risk was analysed using a Cox proportional hazard model. Results Data from 527 patients with diabetes on haemodialysis were analysed. The mortality age‐adjusted hazard ratio of having a physical component score greater than or equal to the median was 0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08–0.96] and the multivariable‐adjusted mortality hazard ratio of having an mental component score greater than or equal to the median was 1.21 (95% CI 0.44–3.35). Conclusions The physical component score derived from the SF‐36 is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with diabetes on haemodialysis who generally had very low HRQoL scores. Baseline mental component score was not predictive of mortality. Patient self‐reporting regarding the physical component of health status may aid in risk stratification and clinical decision making for patients with diabetes on haemodialysis.     

Restless legs syndrome: an underappreciated and distressing problem for haemodialysis patients

Restless legs syndrome is a distressing condition that is more common in patients with end‐stage renal failure. Despite the significant impact it has on quality of life and the documented association between restless legs syndrome and increased mortality, limited data regarding the epidemiology of restless legs syndrome in Australian dialysis patients are available. We report a prospective study that assessed the prevalence and factors associated with restless legs syndrome in an in‐centre haemodialysis population.     

Low dose imipramine improves chest pain but not quality of life in patients with angina and normal coronary angiograms

Aims We investigated patients with chest pain and normal coronaryangiograms to determine whether low dose imipramine prescribedas add-on therapy to conventional anti-anginals reduced theincidence of chest pain and whether this led to an overall improvementin quality of life. Methods and results We performed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial ofimipramine 50mg daily vs placebo in 18 women (median age 53years; range 35–72) with chest pain and normal coronaryangiograms who were suffering at least two anginal episodesper week despite conventional anti-anginal medication. Eachtreatment phase lasted 5 weeks and the incidences of chest painand side effects were carefully recorded. Quality of life wasmonitored using a validated health profile questionnaire scoringperceived distress in six domains (pain, energy, mobility, sleep,emotional reactions and social isolation). The total numberof chest pain episodes was significantly less during activetreatment compared to placebo [11 (3–22) vs 21 (16–28)—median(interquartile range); P=0·01]. However, a high incidence(83%) of side effects was reported during active treatment andthree patients had to be withdrawn from the study as a consequence.No significant improvement was detected in any of the six qualityof life domains when imipramine was compared to placebo. Conclusion Imipramine reduces the incidence of chest pain in patients withchest pain and normal coronaries who remain symptomatic despiteconventional anti-anginal therapy. The failure to demonstrateassociated improvements in quality of life may have been dueto the high incidence of side effects.     

Recombinant human erythropoietin improves health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anaemia of chronic disease; utility measures correlate strongly with disease activity measures

Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-hu-Epo) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) resulted in improvement of both anaemia and disease activity. Utilities represent a generic and comprehensive quality of life measure, capable of integrating domain-specific information into one overall value which a patient assigns to his state of health. Therefore, the effect of r-hu-Epo on quality of life was studied by measuring utilities, derived from the rating scale and standard gamble, in a 52-week placebo-controlled randomised double-blind study with r-hu-Epo in 70 patients with active RA and ACD. Furthermore, the relation between anaemia as assessed by haemoglobin levels (Hb), disease activity as assessed with the Disease Activity Score (DAS), and utilities was investigated. Compared to the placebo group, significant improvement of Hb (P<0.001), DAS (P = 0.01) and rating scale utilities (P = 0.002), but not of standard gamble utilities, was observed in the Epo group. Rating scale utilities correlated strongly with DAS (r = –0.47, P<0.01), Hb (r = 0.37, P<0.01) and changes in both DAS (r = –0.74, P<0.01) and Hb (r = 0.44, P<0.01). Both DAS and Hb contributed significantly to the variance in rating scale utilities (21% and 3% respectively) and to changes in rating scale utilities (43% and 3% respectively). Standard gamble utilities correlated less well with clinical disease variables than rating scale utilities did. These results indicate, that r-hu-Epo improves utility-derived health-related quality of life, most probably by improving both disease activity and anaemia. Utilities, particularly rating scale utilities, correlated well with conventional disease activity variables and proved sensitive to change. Utilities may be a useful tool for investigating quality of life in RA-patients. Received: 16 December 1998 / Accepted: 5 March 1999     

Buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance treatment in an ambulant setting: a health-related quality of life assessment

Background To compare the effects on quality of life (QOL) of oral methadone with sublingual buprenorphine. Methods We performed an open‐label, non‐randomized, two‐site (methadone–buprenorphine) study. During 6 months we assessed the quality of life status of 53 opioid‐dependent patients admitted to a methadone or buprenorphine maintenance programme using the German version (Berlin Quality of Life Profile) of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Physical symptoms were measured using the Opioid Withdrawal Scale. Five hundred and thirty urine screening tests were carried out randomly to detect additional consumption. Results Sixty‐seven opioid‐dependent subjects (38 on methadone and 29 on buprenorphine) were enrolled in the study, and 53 completed it (30 subjects treated with buprenorphine and 23 subjects with racemic methadone). The subjects were comparable on all baseline measures. At the first follow‐up (week 8), the buprenorphine‐maintained group showed significantly less additional consumption of opioids (P = 0.013) compared with the methadone group. Patients retained in the buprenorphine or methadone programme (week 24) showed no significant differences in all quality of life scores. At the end of the study period, the buprenorphine‐maintained group showed significantly less additional consumption of opioids (P = 0.001) and cocaine (P = 0.018) compared with the methadone group. The outcome measures for withdrawal symptoms after 24 weeks of treatment with buprenorphine showed slight advantages in stomach cramps, fatigue or tiredness, feelings of coldness and heart pounding. Conclusions These results suggest that buprenorphine treatment is as effective as methadone regarding effects on quality of life and withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine has the potential to reduce the harm caused by drug abuse. Further research is needed to determine if buprenorphine is more effective than methadone in particular subgroups of patients.     

New HRT options for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and the maintenance of quality of life in postmenopausal women

Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect that reflects the way people feel and function. The assessment of QoL quality of life is an essential tool for estimating the efficacy of any therapy in different pathophysiological conditions. In normal, healthy women, the perception of QoL can be significantly modified during the peri/postmenopausal period. Conventional HRT improves not only symptoms, but also QoL. Selection of patients, as well as the choice of a personalized HRT in terms of doses, types, routes of administration, and combination, are the keys to optimize the benefits and reduce the risks. One type of HRT cannot fit all populations of postmenopausal women. The safety and the benefit/risk ratios reported for the standard higher doses used in the past, as well as in the HERS and WHI trials, cannot vaguely be referred to different preparations, and particularly to newer HRT schedules with lower dosages. The demonstration of efficacy of lower-dose HRT provides important information for the treatment of the postmenopausal syndrome. Lower-dose HRT (as 0.3 mg/d of conjugated estrogens) minimizes the side effects and is likely to improve compliance to the treatment. The choice of lower estrogen doses may at least in part reduce the potential risks of postmenopausal hormone use, while maintaining the benefits of conventional HRT.     

Prospective follow-up study of hepatitis C virus infection in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis: Comparison among haemodialysis units

A prospective follow-up study on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was conducted in seven haemodialysis units from April 1990 to March 1995. A total of 634 patients were undergoing maintenance haemodialysis in the seven units. Of those, 302 patients participated in the follow-up study; 179 were initially HCV antibody negative and 123 were initially positive. Nine of the 179 initially negative patients became positive for HCV antibody during the follow-up period. In accordance with the appearance of HCV antibody, indicating new infection of HCV, all nine of these patients were diagnosed with HCV viraemia. As no other routes were apparent, HCV infection in all nine patients was likely due to nosocomial transmission. Prevalence of HCV antibody at the start of follow up was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in haemodialysis units A-C (37.9%) than in haemodialysis units D-G (17.0%). Incidence of new HCV infection was significantly higher ( P = 0.005) in the former units (2.2% per year) than in the latter (0.2% per year). Ten of the 123 patients who were initially positive for the HCV antibody exhibited a loss of reactivity during the follow-up period; of these 10 patients, nine were negative for HCV-RNA from the start of the study. In conclusion, the incidence of new HCV infection seen in patients undergoing haemodialysis suggests that their risk of acquiring HCV infection is directly related to the prevalence of HCV antibody positive patients being treated in the units.     

Health-related quality of life, functional impairment, and healthcare utilization by veterans: veterans' quality of life study

OBJECTIVES: To describe the health status of veterans receiving care in a veterans integrated service network (VISN). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey with prospective follow-up. SETTING: Former Upper Midwest VISN 13 (now a part of VISN 23), a regional Veterans Affairs (VA) network comprising five inpatient facilities and associated outpatient clinics. PARTICIPANTS: All veterans in VISN 13 who had at least one inpatient or outpatient encounter between October 1, 1997, and March 31, 1998. MEASUREMENTS: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessed using subscales and component summaries from the 36-item short form for veterans (SF36-V), functional status assessed according to limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), healthcare utilization assessed according to outpatient visits and hospitalizations, and death. RESULTS: Of 70,334 eligible veterans, 40,508 responded and reported baseline HRQOL significantly lower than that of the general U.S. population for the physical (35.6, P<.001) and mental (46.4, P<.001) component summary scores (PCS and MCS, respectively) of the SF36-V. Many reported complete inability or some difficulty in completing ADLs such as getting in and out of a chair (35.1%) and walking (45.3%). More than 58% indicated some degree of difficulty with at least one of the ADLs. In multivariate analysis, PCS and MCS were significantly associated with subsequent use of inpatient and outpatient care and with mortality. CONCLUSION: The low quality of life and associated high rates of health services utilization in VA patients imply a need for innovative strategies to improve the HRQOL and functional status of this population.     

Total dose infusion of intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving haemodialysis

A regimen of a single high dose iron administration was initially adopted for patients commencing haemodialysis (HD) treatment. Iron stores are established and iron metabolism and erythropoiesis stabilise allowing haematinic parameters to be more confidently assessed for use in anaemia management decisions. High doses of IV iron delay the need for subsequent iron supplementation. A high-dose, low-frequency iron infusion regimen for all HD patients was adopted. The outcomes of administering this dosage regimen are reported as observational retrospective analysis using patient record data in 2009. Patients received three [median; semi-interquartile range (SIQR) 0.5] high-dose iron infusions during the year. The median infusion dose was 1100 mg iron (SIQR 0.0) and the median amount of iron received during the year by each patient was 3200 mg (SIQR 750). The median haemoglobin (Hb) level prior to infusion was 108 g/l and post infusion 114 g/l; ZHb = 2.656, p = 0.008). Ferritin levels increased from a median of 376 μg/l preinfusion to 690 μg/l postinfusion; Zferritin =-4.796, p < 0.001. The median time between infusions was 125 days (approximately four months). The 51 patients (76%) who received three or less infusions within the study period received 2537 mg (mean) of iron. These findings indicate that both Hb and ferritin levels can be adequately managed using a high-dose, low-frequency regimen of IV iron in patients undergoing HD.     

Gastroesophageal reflux: prevalence of psychopathological disorders and quality of life implications

There is evidence in the literature that psychosocial aspects affect the symptoms and results of surgery for gastroesophageal reflux. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychopathological disorders measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in a sample of patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and to assess the influence of such disorders on their quality of life. A prospective study was conducted in 74 consecutive patients before gastroesophageal reflux surgery; patients answered the GHQ-28, the health questionnaire SF-36, and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). The convergent validity of the GHQ-28 questionnaire as compared to the other two questionnaires and preoperative quality of life was tested. A pathological result of the GHQ-28 questionnaire was found in 38.3% of patients. A correlation was seen between the results of the GHQ-28 questionnaire and all categories of the SF-36 and GIQLI questionnaires. Patients with pathological results in the GHQ-28 questionnaire had poorer results in all dimensions of the SF-36 and GIQLI quality of life questionnaires as compared to patients with a normal result in the GHQ-28 questionnaire. In conclusion, 38.3% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux showed psychopathological disorders when administered the GHQ-28 questionnaire. These patients also had poorer results in quality of life studies.     

Obesity and health-related quality of life

Although it is well documented that obesity is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality, less is known about the impact of obesity on functional status and health‐related quality of life (HRQL). However, in recent years research has been conducted to estimate the impact of obesity on HRQL, and to determine the effects of weight reduction on HRQL. The majority of published studies indicate that obesity impairs HRQL, and that higher degrees of obesity are associated with greater impairment. Obesity‐associated decrements on HRQL tend to be most pronounced on physical domains of functioning. Studies of the effect of obesity surgery among morbidly obese patients indicate that this procedure produces significant and sustained improvements in the majority of HRQL indices; among mild‐to‐moderately obese persons, modest weight reduction derived from lifestyle modification also appears to improve HRQL, at least in the short term. Additional research is needed to (1) further characterize the effect that obesity has on HRQL; (2) estimate the short‐ and long‐term effects of various methods of weight reduction (e.g. surgery, lifestyle modification) on HRQL; 3 improve both the conceptualization and measurement of HRQL to incorporate the personal preferences and values of the patient; and 4 develop ways to enhance and sustain positive changes in HRQL, even if weight maintenance is elusive.     

维持性透析老年尿毒症患者胃肠道症状现状及其对生活质量的影响

目的 分析维持性透析老年尿毒症患者胃肠道症状现状及其对生活质量的影响,为治疗该病提供临床参考。方法 选取2019年6月—2020年5月于四川大学华西医院肾脏内科血液透析中心进行维持性透析的90例老年尿毒症患者为对象,采用胃肠道症状分级评分量表（GSRS）评分和肾脏疾病生活质量量表（KDQOL-SF）评分评估胃肠道症状现状和生活质量,并分析胃肠道症状对生活质量影响。结果 维持性透析老年尿毒症患者胃肠道症状发生率为78.89%,严重程度多为轻微和轻度,发生率最高为消化不良;肾脏疾病和透析相关生活质量评分为（61.53±11.79）分,一般健康相关生活质量评分为（63.24±11.85）分;Spearman相关分析显示,胃肠道症状与生活质量评分均呈负相关性（P<0.05）;多元线性逐步回归分析显示,进食障碍与生活质量呈负相关（B=-14.431,P<0.05）。结论 维持性透析老年尿毒症患者胃肠道症状发生率较高,但严重程度较轻,可通过改善胃肠道症状提高患者的生活质量。     

Relief of symptoms and improvement of health-related quality of life five years after coronary artery bypass graft in women and men

BACKGROUND: Severe coronary artery disease can be successfully treated with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), with considerable improvement in the symptoms of angina pectoris. Approximately three of four patients are free of ischemic events for 5 years; however, increased survival is demonstrated only in selected subgroups with advanced coronary artery disease, and this effect has not been established in elderly patients. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to determine the relief of symptoms and improvement in other aspects of health-related quality of life (QoL) during 5 years after CABG in women and men. METHODS: Patients who underwent CABG in western Sweden were approached prior to and 5 years after surgery. Health-related QoL was estimated with Physical Activity Score (PAS), Nottingham Health Profile, and Psychological General Well-Being Index. RESULTS: Women (n = 381) had a 5-year mortality of 17% compared with 13% for men (n = 1,619; NS). After 5 years, 1,719 patients (survivors) were available for the survey; of these, 876 (51%) answered the inquiry both prior to and after 5 years. Both women and men improved markedly and highly significantly, both with respect to symptoms and other aspects of health-related QoL. Women suffered more than men in terms of limitation of physical activity, dyspnea, chest pain, and others aspects of health-related QoL. There was a significant interaction between time and gender, with more improvement in men with regard to chest pain when walking uphill or quickly on level ground, when walking on level ground at the speed of other persons their own age, when under stress, and in windy and cold weather. For those parameters as well as for PAS, improvement was more marked in men than in women. In the other aspects of health-related QoL, there was no interaction between time and gender. CONCLUSION: Five years after CABG, limitation of physical activity, symptoms of dyspnea, and chest pain were reduced, and various aspects of health-related QoL had improved in both women and men. In general, women suffered more than men both prior to and after CABG; however, in some aspects the improvement was more pronounced in men. Because of the limited response rate, the results may not be applicable to a nonselected population who had undergone CABG.     

矽肺患者生存质量调查分析

目的评价并分析矽肺患者生存质量状况及其影响因素。方法采用WHOQOL．100量表调查150例矽肺患者及150例未患矽肺工人,将调查结果用sPSs11．0统计软件进行分析。结果矽肺患者生存质量较对照组明显减低,特别是在躯体疼痛、精力、睡眠、信心、负性情感、行动能力、日常生活能力、依赖性、获取信息、休闲活动、信仰,总体健康等方面与未患矽肺工人比较,差异有显著性（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。矽肺患者并发症的多少、期别的高低、年龄、婚姻状况、参与休闲娱乐的机会及参与程度、人际关系的满意度等对生存质量均有影响。结论在对矽肺及并发症进行治疗的同时,重视健康教育,提供心理治疗,鼓励参加休闲活动和社会交往．有利于提高矽肺患者的生存质量。     

Components and determinants of quality of life in community-dwelling older adults

The objectives of this study are to detect the main components of global quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling older adults from their own perspective and to identify determinants of health-related and global QoL in the same population. This is a cross-sectional study covering a representative sample of 1,106 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older residing in Spain. The survey collected information on QoL through a face-to-face interview asking for QoL components in free-format, as well as the completion of two QoL measures, the EQ-5D and the Personal Wellbeing Index. The most important QoL dimensions, according to the participants of this study, were health, family, and finances. Depression was the main determinant of both QoL indices, while functional independence and social support specifically influenced health-related and global QoL, respectively. Based on the perspective of the older adults as well as on statistical analysis, this work emphasizes the importance of health, family, and social support as areas of special interest in aging. There was a discrepancy when comparing findings related to the importance of financial status. Results also support that global and health-related QoL share some common determinants, but with different weights for functional independence and social support.     

Health status and health-related quality of life associated with hemophilia

The hemophilias are a group of disorders associated with a chronic burden of morbidity and early mortality. Improvements in these adverse features have been achieved by the use of clotting factor concentrates within comprehensive centers of specialized care providing home infusion programs. Offsetting effects from transfusion-transmitted hepatitis and HIV infection are in recent decline. The net impact of these changes merits assessment. To test the a priori hypotheses that increasing severity of factor VIII deficiency would be associated with an increasing burden or morbidity and that hepatitis and HIV positivity would impair health status further, a cross-sectional study of a population-based cohort was undertaken in a regional hemophilia program in Ontario, Canada. A survey was made of mild, moderate, and severe hemophiliacs over 13 years of age who self-reported their health status using a standard 15-item questionnaire. The responses were converted to levels in the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) and Mark 3 (HUI3) health status classification systems to form multi-element vectors from which single-attribute morbidity and overall health-related quality of life utility scores were determined. The burden of morbidity was greater in hemophiliacs than in the general population and correlated with the category of disease (mild < moderate < severe). Hepatitis and HIV positivity conferred additional burdens of morbidity, which were mainly in the attributes of mobility (HUI2), ambulation (HUI3), and pain (HUI2/3), all of these differences reaching levels of statistical significance. Despite demonstrable improvements in the safety, effectiveness, and utilization of clotting factor concentrates, hemophiliacs continue to experience an important burden of morbidity. Measurement of this burden, as reported here, provides a basis for future economic evaluation of the costs and consequences of health care interventions provided to this population.     

Modern haemophilia treatment: medical improvements and quality of life

Adequate replacement therapy in haemophilia has been available for two decades. This has led to considerable improvements in the life expectancy and physical status of haemophilia patients. A study was conducted to investigate whether this has also led to improvements in quality of life. With this aim, information was obtained from 935 Dutch haemophiliacs by mailed questionnaires on relationships, marriage, family life and employment. Haemophilia patients were less often married than men in the general population (13% fewer) and had a lower total number of children (30% lower, 17% for those who were married). Twenty-two per cent of the patients were not employed and received an income from the disability funds. While severity of haemophilia, joint damage and age increased the risk of disability, it was noted that home treatment was associated with a 50% reduction in this risk. Remarkably, haemophilia patients did not differ from the general population in their view of the quality of their own health. The results of this study show a positive influence of modern haemophilia treatment on quality of life. At present, AIDS overshadows all optimistic feelings one may have about this field. However, the results described here demonstrate the benefits that can be achieved with adequate replacement therapy, and justify the expectation of further improvements in the near future.     

Low vision rehabilitation in improving the quality of life for patients with impaired vision: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 randomized clinical trials

Background & aim:Low vision rehabilitation optimizes the use of residual vision after severe vision loss, but also teaches skills to improve visual functioning in daily life. These skills promote independence and active participation in society. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy of low vision rehabilitation in improving the quality of life (QoL) in visually impaired adults.Methods:We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to January 1, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared rehabilitation interventions with active or inactive controls were included. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated to compare outcomes. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed trial quality independently. All statistical analyses were performed using the standard statistical procedures of RevMan 5.2.Results:A total of 52 RCTs with 6,239 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to inactive comparators including waiting list or no care, low vision rehabilitation improved vision-related QoL, visual functioning (QoL: psychological aspect), and self-efficacy or self-esteem (QoL: psychological aspect), with pooled SMDs of −0.61 (95% CI −0.95 to −0.26; P = .0006), -1.14 (95% CI −1.69 to −0.59; P < .0001), and −0.84 (95% CI −1.47 to −0.22; P < .0001), respectively. Compared to active comparators, low vision rehabilitation improved vision-related QoL (SMD −0.26; 95% CI −0.46 to −0.06; P = .01) and activities of daily living (QoL: physical aspect) (SMD −0.39; 95% CI −0.67 to −0.12 P < .0001). However, no significant difference in health-related QoL and adaptation to vision loss (QoL: psychological aspect) was found between low vision rehabilitation and inactive comparators.Conclusions:This meta-analysis indicated that low vision rehabilitation interventions, particularly psychological therapies and methods of enhancing vision, may improve vision-related QoL and visual functioning in people with sight loss compared to usual care. Further studies should explore longer maintenance effects and the costs of several types of low vision rehabilitation. Studies characterizing the mechanisms of rehabilitation interventions in different settings, including low-income countries, are also required.