Comparison of SF-36 and WHOQoL-BREF in Measuring Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Combined effects of strength and balance training versus aerobic training on balance, neuropathy symptoms and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) occurs in >50% of diabetic patients and is a high risk-factor of balance problems and risk of falls. Impaired balance can lead to reduced function, which has a detrimental effect on patients' quality of life. Structured strength and balance training can result in sustained improvements in muscle strength, coordination, balance, functional status and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the combined effects of strength and balance training versus aerobic training on balance, severity of symptoms of DPN, and quality of life in patients with DPN.

METHODS

This double blinded, two arm parallel design Randomized Clinical Trial. The study was conducted from March to December 2020 in the AIMS diabetic center Peshawar, Pakistan. Participants were selected through convenience sampling technique and randomly allocated into strength plus balance and aerobic training groups. Type 2 diabetic patients of both sexes, aged 40 to 80 years, with a Toronto neuropathy score ≥6 recruited, while patients with ulceration/infection of feet, medical/Surgical conditions, and non-ambulatory patients were excluded from this study. Intervention was applied 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The Toronto clinical neuropathy system was used to assess neuropathy severity, SF-36 to assess quality of life and the Berg balance scale was used for assessment of balance. Assessment was done at the baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention using SPSS. Version 22 was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 60.80 ± 9.73. Between group analysis, which showed were statistically insignificant for neuropathy severity, balance and all domains of quality of life (p-value >0.05) except SF-36 General Health Perception Score, with Mean ± SD of 62.50 ± 7.54 in group A versus Mean ± SD of in group B 60.00 ± 15.98 (p-value = 0.05). Within group analysis showed statistically significant results for neuropathy severity, balance and all domains of quality of life (p-value<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that there is a statistically significant effect of structured balance and strength training and aerobic training on severity of DPN, balance and quality of life. But there was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the two intervention groups.

The role of quality of life data as an endpoint for collecting real-world evidence within geroscience clinical trials

With geroscience research evolving at a fast pace, the need arises for human randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of geroprotective interventions to prevent age-related adverse outcomes, disease, and mortality in normative aging cohorts. However, to confirm efficacy requires a long-term and costly approach as time to the event of morbidity and mortality can be decades. While this could be circumvented using sensitive biomarkers of aging, current molecular, physiological, and digital endpoints require further validation. In this review, we discuss how collecting real-world evidence (RWE) by obtaining health data that is amenable for collection from large heterogeneous populations in a real-world setting can help speed up validation of geroprotective interventions. Further, we propose inclusion of quality of life (QoL) data as a biomarker of aging and candidate endpoint for geroscience clinical trials to aid in distinguishing healthy from unhealthy aging. We highlight how QoL assays can aid in accelerating data collection in studies gathering RWE on the geroprotective effects of repurposed drugs to support utilization within healthy longevity medicine. Finally, we summarize key metrics to consider when implementing QoL assays in studies, and present the short-form 36 (SF-36) as the most well-suited candidate endpoint.

Clinical study on simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to analyze the clinical effect of simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

METHODS

A total of 144 patients with synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis who were admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and January 2019 were randomly assigned into a control group and an intervention group. The patients in the control group received simultaneous resection of liver metastases. The patients in the intervention group obtained simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with HIPEC. The recent total effective rate of the 2 groups was compared, and the disease control rate of the 2 groups was calculated at 3 months after treatment. The patients were followed up for 3 years. The survival time of the 2 groups was observed and compared. Fasting venous blood was collected from patients in the 2 groups, and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was compared. The level of quality of life scale (Short Form 36-item Health Survey) and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The R0 complete resection rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05). The recent total effective rate in the intervention group (87.50%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (59.72%) (P < .05). The negative change of CEA in the intervention group was 72.22%, which was prominently higher than that in the control group of 43.06% (χ2 = 12.542, P < .001). After a 36-month follow-up, the overall survival rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (hazard ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.05-5.48; P < .001). The patients in the intervention group had significantly higher life quality scores of health status, social function, emotional function, physical function, and mental health than in the control group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the 2 groups (P > .05). Age > 60 years, preoperative comorbidities, moderate and high differentiation of tumors, intraoperative blood loss > 150 mL, and less experienced surgeons were risk factors affecting the occurrence of complications after treatment and were closely correlated with the prognosis and survival of patients (P < .05). Patients with age ≤ 60 years, no preoperative comorbidities, low tumor differentiation, intraoperative blood loss ≤ 150 mL, more experienced surgeons, and complete R0 resection had a longer survival time. Age > 60 years, preoperative comorbidities, moderate and high differentiation of tumors, intraoperative blood loss > 150 mL, and less experienced surgeons were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (P < .05), whereas R0 surgery was an independent protective factor for the prognosis (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastases, simultaneous resection of liver metastases in conjunction with HIPEC demonstrated superior efficacy. This approach may potentially extend patient survival and enhance quality of life and deserve to be extensively used in clinical practice.

Diabetic Foot and Work Outcomes: A Review

The aim of this review article was to discuss impact of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) on employment status and work productivity. We performed a literature search from 2000 to 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and in national repositories. The major work outcomes studied were presenteeism and absenteeism. Many DFUs patients had a poor social and educational background. Overall, DFUs patients experienced increased loss of productivity in their workplaces: either they had to be absent more working hours than average or they faced increased difficulty in meeting their daily requirements. The total loss in productivity is estimated to exceed almost one-third of anticipated working time, while 15 to 34.3% of DFUs patients expressed concerns about severe changes in their working environment, attributed directly to their condition. More than 1 out of 5 DFUs patients (ranging from 20 to 31.7%) were even confronted with overall job loss and unemployment. Amputations had an even more marked negative effect. In conclusion, DFUs negatively affect employment status and work productivity. Therefore, we need more studies with large participant numbers to increase our experience and to explore potential measures to mitigate these adverse effects.

The Mediating Role of Acceptance Action and Self-Care in Diabetes Self-Stigma's Impact on Type 2 Diabetes Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recently, the quality of life of individuals with diabetes has been reduced, owing to self-stigma that occurs in the process of managing the disease. This process can be improved by accepting diabetes. This study aimed to verify the dual mediating effect of acceptance action and diabetes self-care on the effect of diabetes self-stigma on the quality of life of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Korea. In this study, 300 of 400 data collected to develop and evaluate health equilibrium tools for individuals with T2DM were randomly selected and analyzed. Data were collected from 1 September 2020 to 31 September 2020 using a structured online questionnaire. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0. Additionally, the dual mediation effect was analyzed using PROCESS Macro for SPSS, version 4.1. Acceptance action (B = -0.088, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.127 to -0.054) and diabetes self-care (B = 0.046, 95% CI, 0.022-0.072) had a mediating effect on the relationship between diabetes self-stigma and quality of life in patients with T2DM in Korea. In particular, these two variables had dual mediating effects (B = 0.017, 95% CI, 0.015-0.019). This study confirmed that diabetes self-care and quality of life can be increased by improving acceptance behavior to overcome the negative impact of self-stigma on the quality of life of patients with T2DM. Establishing a strategy to increase acceptance action as part of an intervention to reduce the negative impact of self-stigma on the quality of life of patients with T2DM is necessary.

Anxiety and Health Concerns among Healthcare Personnel Working with COVID-19 Patients: A Self-Assessment Study

BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are currently among the most common psychiatric diagnoses. This study aimed to analyze self-assessment of anxiety disorders, depression, and quality of life among healthcare personnel working during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on sociodemographic sources and psychological indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study covered a group of 318 healthcare professionals from Poland. The study used a self-created questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, WHOQOL-BREF, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale. RESULTS In the study group, 71.1% of the respondents had coronavirus infection, and only 3.5% were not vaccinated. Almost half (45.6%) of the respondents in this group made independent decisions about performing work (45.6%), and 93.4% were satisfied with their work. Less than half of respondents (46.5%) felt work-related anxiety during the pandemic, 54.7% of respondents reported symptoms of depression, and 57% had a good quality of life. Nearly half (47.2%) of the respondents rated their health as good, but 53.1% feared deterioration after performing the aforementioned work, while 87.1% constantly or periodically felt anxious about their work. CONCLUSIONS Although the respondents usually made their own decisions about working with coronavirus-infected patients, most of them experienced anxiety related to their work during the pandemic and were afraid of damaging their health and contracting COVID-19. In self-assessment using standardized questionnaires, most respondents did not show an increase in generalized or social anxiety, but to a greater or lesser extent were diagnosed with a depressive episode. The majority of respondents had a good quality of life: the highest aspect regarded physical functioning and the lowest regarded social functioning.

Psychosocial Well-Being and Quality of Life in Uveitis: A Review

PURPOSE

As a potentially sight-threatening disease with ocular, systemic, and treatment-related complications, uveitis diminishes quality of life (QOL) and affects psychosocial well-being. This review summarizes the existing tools for evaluating psychosocial well-being and/or QOL in patients with uveitis, explores the biological and non-biological factors affecting psychosocial well-being and/or QOL, and proposes future directions for incorporating these tools into clinical practice.

METHODS

A systematic search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception to June 8, 2022 was conducted, screening for articles focused on psychosocial well-being and/or QOL in patients with uveitis. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In uveitis research, the most frequently studied patient-reported outcome measures were vision-related QOL (e.g. Visual Function Questionnaire [VFQ-25]) and health-related QOL (e.g. Short Form Survey [SF-36]), followed by mental health indicators including depression and anxiety. Instruments have also been developed specific to the pediatric population (e.g. Effects of Youngsters' Eyesight on Quality of Life [EYE-Q]). Generally, studies report worse psychosocial outcomes and QOL in patients with uveitis compared to the general population. Contributory factors include both clinical (e.g. visual impairment, ocular comorbidities) and patient-related (e.g. older age, female sex) factors.

CONCLUSION

Given the heterogeneity of instruments used, it is worth considering standardization across large uveitis studies and trials. Beyond research, given the biopsychosocial effects on patients with uveitis, there are benefits to incorporating QOL and psychosocial assessments into clinical practice. Simplification of questionnaires into abridged forms, focusing on the most clinically relevant aspects of patient care, may be considered.

Quality of life in families under quarantine: a cross-sectional study in seven countries during the first outbreak of COVID-19

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted human well-being worldwide in unforeseen ways. In early 2020, the spread of the virus left its mark on every affected country, impacting mental health by limiting daily activities and causing fatalities amidst public health strategies to mitigate its impact. The influence of COVID-19 on the quality of life (QoL) may vary between countries, underscoring the need to examine its effects on individuals and families during the mandatory home quarantine. We aimed to assess the QoL of individuals and families during home isolation by COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2020. We included adult partners (≥18 years) of families from Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Japan, Peru, Russia, and Venezuela. Using the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire we assess the impact of COVID-19 on their partner/family member's QoL.

Results

The survey was completed by 466 participants (mean age = 38.59 ± 13.75 years; females = 298) and 76% worked mostly as health professionals from South America (69.2%), Europe (18.4%), and Asia (12.4%). The WHOQOL-BREF mean score from 38.38 ± 11.55 (range = 22.8-43.4). The average quality of life in South America (41.9 ± 1.2) was significantly higher than that of European countries (30.9 ± 11.5) (p = 0.002). The social relations dimension was the only one with values close to 100 (mean = 83.3) in 6/7 evaluated countries, where only Spain had a low score (41 ± 33.12). Women had a slightly lower quality of life than men, but it was not significant (40.2 ± 8.8 vs. 41.5 ± 9.9, p = 0.354), while we found differences in the overall QoL between young and older, and by employment type (p < 0.05). According to family structure, we found differences on QoL between nuclear and siblings' families (p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Families from seven countries of three continents reported poor QoL during the first outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic scenario has dramatically weakened the QoL in 3/4 dimensions, where social relationships have remained high. It is important to fully address the impact of this reduced QoL on families after several waves of infection and to provide comprehensive support in the post-COVID future.

Patients' health and quality of life after complex endovascular aortic repair: A prospective cohort study

RATIONALE

Complex endovascular aortic repair often involves multiple major procedures over time with a high risk of complications and little time for recovery. This exposes patients to great stress, both physically and mentally, with potentially long-lasting effects. There is limited knowledge about these effects and who is most at risk - information on this could help vascular nurses and other healthcare professionals anticipate and meet care needs.

AIM

To investigate the health and quality of life effects of complex endovascular aortic repair, in relation to patients' demographic and health characteristics.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective complex endovascular aortic repair were consecutively recruited from one university hospital during one year (n=25). Self-report questionnaires on health disability (WHODAS 2.0), quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS) were filled out preoperatively and repeated one and six months postoperatively. Prospective changes in health and quality of life, and associations with patient demographics and preoperative health characteristics, were assessed. Ethical approval was obtained prior to study performance.

RESULTS

Overall, patients had significantly greater health disability at one month (WHODAS 2.0 score median 31.5, range 1.1-63.0) than preoperatively (median 13.6, range 0.0-41.3) (n=22, p=.017); the majority had recovered at six months (median 11.4, range 3.3-58.7) (n=18, p=.042). No significant effects were seen in quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression (p>.05). However, the participants showed heterogeneity, with certain individuals not recovered at six months (n=8). Factors associated with worse six-month outcomes were being female, age < 70 years, postoperative complications, and history of anxiety or depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Complex endovascular aortic repair have limited long-term negative effects on patients' health and quality of life. However, some patients are not recovered at six months postoperatively, which could be explained by individual characteristics. To improve recovery outcomes, vascular nurses and other health care professionals should be aware of the possible recovery trajectories and factors associated with impaired recovery, and use them to anticipate and meet the patients' individual care needs.

Quality of Life 6 Months after COVID-19 Hospitalisation: A Single-Centre Polish Registry

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the entire global population, had an impact on our health and quality of life. Many people had complications, were hospitalised or even died due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The health systems of many countries had to radically change their way of functioning and scientists around the world worked intensively to develop a vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

AIM

The aim of this work is to assess the quality of life of patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19, using the SF-36 questionnaire.

METHODS

Between May and August 2022, we conducted a telephone assessment of quality of life in patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 at the Temporary Hospital in Pyrzowice (Silesia, Poland), between November 2021 and January 2022.

RESULTS

Quality of life was significantly lower in women (p = 0.040), those with DM2 (p = 0.013), CKD (p = 0.041) and the vaccinated (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

People with chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and women had a lower quality of life after COVID-19 disease. However, people who were vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 had a lower quality of life than non-vaccinated people did. This is possibly due to the higher mean age, and probably the higher disease burden, in the vaccinated group.

Effect of osteoarthritis and its surgical treatment on patients' quality of life: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the primary causes of pain and disability worldwide leading to patients having some of the worst health-related quality of life (QOL). The purpose of our study was to investigate the progression of the generic and disease-specific QOL of osteoarthritic patients going through total hip or knee replacement surgery and the factors that might alter the effect of surgery on QOL.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was performed based on data collected from 120 OA patients who filled in the short version of the WHO's generic measure of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the disease-specific Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Domains related to physical health status showed relatively lower scores in patients before surgery. Patients reported a significant increase of QOL after surgery in the WHOQOL-BREF physical domain, especially if they were from the younger group (< 65 years, p = 0.022) or had a manual job (p = 0.008). Disease-specific QOL outcome results indicate that overall patients gained significantly better QOL in all domains of the WOMAC score. Patients with hip OA seemed to have the most benefit of their operation as they reported better outcome in WOMAC pain (p = 0.019), stiffness (p = 0.010), physical function domains (p = 0.011) and total score (p = 0.007) compared to knee OA patients.

CONCLUSION

There was a statistically significant improvement in all domains concerning physical functions in the study population. Patients also reported significant improvement in the social relationship domain, which indicates that OA itself as well as its management might have a profound effect on patients' life beyond the reduction of their pain.

Evaluating Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cushing's Syndrome

The importance of the patient's perspective on disease has increasingly gained traction among clinical investigators and clinicians. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are those which pertain to a patient's health, quality of life, or functional status (associated with health care or treatment) that are reported directly by the patient, without interpretation by a clinician. In this article, we will review PROs as they relate to the signs, symptoms, health-related quality of life, and comorbidities of active Cushing's syndrome (CS), and CS after treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and medical therapy. We will explore long-term outcomes in the setting of remission, persistence, and recurrence in this population.

Patient-reported outcome measures for assessing health-related quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are important tools to assess outcomes relevant to patients, with Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) as an important construct to be measured. Many different HRQOL PROMs are used in the type 2 diabetes field, however a complete overview of these PROMs is currently lacking. We therefore aimed to systematically describe and classify the content of all PROMs that have specifically been developed or validated to measure (aspects of) HRQOL in people with type 2 diabetes. A literature search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE until 31 December 2021. Studies on the development or validation of a PROM measuring HRQOL, or aspects of HRQOL, in people with type 2 diabetes were included. Title and abstract and full-text screening were conducted by two independent researchers and data extraction was performed independently by one of the researchers. Data were extracted on language in which the PROM was developed, target population, construct(s) being measured, names of (sub)scales and number of items per (sub)scale. In addition, all PROMs and subscales were classified according to specific aspects of HRQOL based on the Wilson & Cleary model (symptom status, functional status, general health perceptions) to aid researchers in PROM selection. In total 220 studies were identified that developed or validated PROMs that measure (aspects of) HRQOL in people with type 2 diabetes. Of the 116 unique HRQOL PROMs, 91 (of the subscales) measured symptom status, 60 measured functional status and 26 measured general health perceptions. In addition, 16 of the PROMs (subscales) measured global quality of life. 61 of the 116 PROMs (subscales) also include characteristics of the individual (e.g. aspects of personality, coping) or environment (e.g. social or financial support) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs, e.g. measure of a patient's perception of their personal experience of the healthcare they have received, e.g. treatment satisfaction), which are not part of the HRQOL construct. Only 9 of the 116 PROMs measure all aspects of HRQOL based on the Wilson & Cleary model. Finally, 8 of the 116 PROMs stating to measure HRQOL, measured no HRQOL construct. In conclusion, a large number of PROMs are available for people with type 2 diabetes, which intend to measure (aspects of) HRQOL. These PROMs measure a large variety of (sub)constructs, which are not all HRQOL constructs, with a small amount of PROMs not measuring HRQOL at all. There is a need for consensus on which aspects of HRQOL should be measured in people with type 2 diabetes and which PROMs to use in research and daily practice. PROSPERO: CRD42017071012. COMET database: http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/956 .

Assessment of quality of life and its determinants in type-2 diabetes patients using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is rising at a rapid rate worldwide. As a chronic, incurable metabolic disease, diabetes affects a person's life in all ways. Studies thus far have focused on the impact of diabetes on the physical and mental health of persons affected by the quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to explore the whole range of QoL deficits using the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) in type-2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out among individuals aged at or above 15 years with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Patients with prior mental health illness and unwillingness to give consent were excluded. A pretested structured questionnaire including the 26-item WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used for face-to-face interviews. Appropriate ethical measures were ensured. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software STATA (Version 16.1). Graphs were created using R (Version 4.0.0).

RESULTS

A total of 500 T2 DM patients with a mean age of 55.8 ± 13.2 years (± SD) and a female proportion of 50.8% were included. Overall, 22.2% of participants rated their QoL as poor, and 25% were dissatisfied with their health (as assessed by questions 1 and 2 of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire). More than half (54% and 51.2%, respectively) had an average evaluation of their QoL and health. The QoL scores were below average, with mean scores (± SD) for the physical health, psychological, social relationship, and environmental domains of 37.2 ± 20.5, 44.2 ± 21.0, 39.6 ± 23.2, and 41.6 ± 19.5, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the patient's level of education and monthly family income were significant positive modifiers and that complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, and peripheral artery disease) were significant negative determinants of the QoL score in different domains.

CONCLUSION

This study found the overall quality of life among T2DM patients below average. Health authorities and clinicians should take these findings into account and incorporate necessary measures to ameliorate negative modifiers of the quality of life of sufferers.

Optimism and Health Self-Perception-Related Differences in Indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at Low and High Altitude: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Ortiz-Prado, Esteban, Katherine Simbaña-Rivera, Diego Duta, Israel Ochoa, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Eduardo Vasconez, Kathia Carrasco, Manuel Calvopiña, Ginés Viscor, and Clara Paz. Optimism and health self-perception-related differences in indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at low and high altitude: a cross-sectional analysis. High Alt Med Biol 00:000-000, 2021. Background: Living at high altitude causes adaptive responses at every physiological and molecular level within the human body. Emotional and psychological short- or long-term consequences, including mood changes, higher mental overload, and depression prevalence, as well as increased risk to commit suicide have been reported among highlanders. The objective of this report is to explore the differences in self-reported dispositional optimism and health perception among sex-, age-, and genotype-controlled indigenous Kiwcha natives living at two different altitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the comparison of means of subscales and summary scores of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) self-reported questionnaire and the Life Orientation Test-Revised was conducted among 219 adults Kiwchas living at low (230 m) and high altitude (3,800 m) in Ecuador. Results: High-altitude dwellers presented lower scores in all the studied dimensions of SF-36 and the total score. Differences were found for the role limitation sphere due to vitality (p = 0.005), mental health (p = 0.002), and social functioning (p = 0.005). In all the cases, participants living at low altitudes scored higher than those living at high altitudes. Lowland women were more optimistic than their high-altitude counterparts. Conclusions: We observe that populations located at high altitudes have more unfavorable self-reported health states. Although our results depict the existence of significant differences in the health status of indigenous peoples living at different altitudes, further studies are needed to explain in depth the sociodemographic and/or environmental factors that might underlie these differences.

Psychometric properties of self-reported measures of health-related quality of life in people living with HIV: a systematic review

Objective

To identify and assess the psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods

Nine databases were searched from January 1996 to October 2020. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias Checklist. We used the COSMIN criteria to summarize and rate the psychometric properties of each PROM. A modified Grading, Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to assess the certainty of evidence.

Results

Sixty-nine studies reported on the psychometric properties of 30 identified instruments. All studies were considered to have adequate methodological quality in terms of content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency. Limited information was retrieved on cross-cultural validity, criterion validity, reliability, hypothesis testing, and responsiveness. High-quality evidence on psychometric properties was provided for the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), the brief version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument in HIV Infection (WHOQoL-HIV-BREF), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Multidimensional Quality of Life Questionnaire for Persons with HIV/AIDS (MQoL-HIV), and WHOQoL-HIV.

Conclusions

The findings from the included studies highlighted that among HIV-specific and generic HRQoL PROMs, MOS-HIV, WHOQoL-HIV-BREF, SF-36, MQoL-HIV, and WHOQoL-HIV are strongly recommended to evaluate HRQoL in PLWH in research and clinics based on the specific aims of assessments and the response burden for participants.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-021-01910-w.

Deanxit can improve the dizziness, anxiety, and quality of life of patients with chronic subjective dizziness

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to analyze the clinical effectiveness of Deanxit (DEA) for treating chronic subjective dizziness (CSD).

METHODS

A total of 110 CSD patients (all from a community survey) admitted to our hospital from August 2018 to August 2020 were recruited as the study cohort. Among them, 60 who underwent DEA treatment were placed in the research group (RG) and 50 who underwent basic treatment were placed in the control group (CG). The two groups' efficacy, their dizziness disability rating scale (DHI) scores, the improvement in their clinical symptoms (duration of dizziness, frequency of dizziness attacks), their anxiety and depression (i.e., their Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores) and their Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)) scores, their sleep quality and their quality of life (short form 36 (SF-36) health survey scores) were observed and compared.

RESULTS

Compared with the CG, the DHI scores, the dizziness durations, the number of dizziness attacks and the HAMA and HAMD scores in the RG were markedly lower than they were in the CG, and the sleep quality levels and SF-36 scores were higher than they were in the CG.

CONCLUSION

DEA treatment helps to improve the dizziness, anxiety, and quality of life of CSD patients.

Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Impact on Quality of Life in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objective: Mental health may affect the quality of life (QoL) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, mental disorders have not been systematically assessed in these patients. We examined the prevalence of mental disorders using structured interviews and determined their impact on QoL in patients with PAH. Methods: This study included 217 patients with PAH from two German referral centers. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using the structured clinical interview for DSM-V. QoL was assessed using the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (short form). The diagnostic value of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: More than one third of the patients had psychological disorders with current or past adjustment disorder (38.2%), current major depressive disorder (23.0%), and panic disorder (15.2%) being the most prevalent mental illnesses. About half of the patients with a history of adjustment disorder developed at least one other mental illness. The presence of mental disorders had a profound impact on QoL. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ruled out panic disorder and depression disorder with negative predictive values of almost 90%. Conclusion: Mental disorders, in particular adjustment disorder, major depression, and panic disorder, are common in patients with PAH and contribute to impaired QoL in these patients. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale may be used as a screening tool for the most common mental health disorders. Future studies need to address interventional strategies targeting mental disorders in patients with PAH.