Determining clinically important differences in health-related quality of life in older patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy or surgery

Abstract Background Older people are particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Little is known about long-term consequences of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life and functional status in older people, and the impact of age in this context. We aimed to study age-related change in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), functional decline and mortality among older patients six months following hospitalisation due to COVID-19. Methods This was a cohort study including patients aged 60 years and older admitted to four general hospitals in South-Eastern Norway due to COVID-19, from March 1 up until July 1, 2020. Patients who were still alive were invited to attend a six-month follow-up. Change in HR-QoL and functional status compared to before the COVID-19 hospitalisation were assessed using the EuroQol 5-dimensional-5 levels questionnaire (EQ 5D-5L). A change in visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 7 or more was considered clinically relevant. Results Out of 216 patients aged 60 years and older that were admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 during the study period, 171 were still alive 180 days after hospital admission, and 106 patients (62%) attended the six-month follow-up. Mean age was 74.3 years, 27 patients (26%) had experienced severe COVID-19. 57 participants (54%) reported a decrease in the EQ5D-5L VAS score after six months, with no significant difference between persons aged 75 years and older compared to younger. 70 participants (66%) reported a negative change in any of the dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L, with impaired ability to perform activities of daily life (35%), reduced mobility (33%) and having more pain or discomfort (33%) being the most commonly reported changes. 46 participants (43%) reported a negative change in cognitive function compared to before the COVID-19 hospitalisation. Six-month mortality was 21%, and increased with increasing age. Conclusions More than half of the patients reported a negative change in HR-QoL six months following hospitalisation due to COVID-19, and one out of three experienced a persistently impaired mobility and ability to carry out activities of daily living. The results suggest awareness of long-term functional decline in older COVID-19 patients.

Download Full-text

Effects of Chronic Comorbidities on the Health-Related Quality of Life among Older Patients after Falls in Vietnamese Hospitals

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16193623 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (19) ◽

pp. 3623 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hai Minh Vu ◽

Long Hoang Nguyen ◽

Tung Hoang Tran ◽

Kiet Tuan Huy Pham ◽

Hai Thanh Phan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Patients ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Tobit Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fall Injuries ◽

Spine Diseases ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Although comorbidities are prevalent in older people experiencing falls, there is a lack of studies examining their influence on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in this population. This study examines the prevalence of comorbidities and associations between comorbidities and HRQOL in older patients after falls in Vietnamese hospitals. A cross-sectional design was employed among 405 older patients admitted to seven hospitals due to fall injuries in Thai Binh province, Vietnam. The EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) was used to measure HRQOL. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire, while comorbidities and other clinical characteristics were examined by physicians and extracted from medical records. Multivariate Tobit regression was used to determine the associations between comorbidities and HRQOL. Among 405 patients, 75.6% had comorbidities, of which hypertension and osteoarthritis were the most common. Lumbar spine/cervical spine diseases (Coefficient (Coef.) = −0.10; 95%CI = −0.18; 0.03) and stroke (Coef. = −0.36; 95%CI = −0.61; −0.10) were found to be associated with a significantly decreased EQ-5D index. Participants with three comorbidities had EQ-5D indexes 0.20 points lower (Coef. = −0.20; 95%CI = −0.31; −0.09) in comparison with those without comorbidities. This study underlined a significantly high proportion of comorbidities in older patients hospitalized due to fall injuries in Vietnam. In addition, the existence of comorbidities was associated with deteriorating HRQOL. Frequent monitoring and screening comorbidities are critical to determining which individuals are most in need of HRQOL enhancement.

Download Full-text

The relationship between comorbidity medication adherence and health related quality of life among patients with cancer

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes ◽

10.1186/s41687-018-0057-2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dana Drzayich Antol ◽

Adrianne Waldman Casebeer ◽

Raya Khoury ◽

Todd Michael ◽

Andrew Renda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Medication Adherence ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

A prognostic model predicted deterioration in health-related quality of life in older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology ◽

10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 130 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Ana I. González-González ◽

Andreas D. Meid ◽

Truc S. Dinh ◽

Jeanet W. Blom ◽

Marjan van den Akker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Patients ◽

Prognostic Model ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Download Full-text

Fear of Falling among Older Patients Admitted to Hospital after Falls in Vietnam: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Correlation with Impaired Health-Related Quality of Life

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17072493 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 2493 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Long Hoang Nguyen ◽

Giang Thu Vu ◽

Giang Hai Ha ◽

Cuong Tat Nguyen ◽

Hai Minh Vu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Patients ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Fall Injuries ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Fear of falling (FOF) diminishes older people’s independence in daily activities, as well as causes serious health and economic consequences. This study examined the prevalence of FOF in older patients hospitalized due to fall-injuries, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and its associated factors. We conducted a cross-sectional study in seven hospitals in Thai Binh, Vietnam. FOF was assessed using a single close-ended question. HRQOL was evaluated by the EQ-5D-5L instrument. Multilevel logistic regression and Tobit regression models were utilized. The prevalence of FOF in 405 older patients admitted to hospitals after fall injuries was 88.2%, with a mean EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS of 0.34 (SD = 0.38) and 61.6 (SD = 15.2), respectively. Factors associated with FOF included living alone (OR = 0.13, 95%CI = 0.04; 0.50.,), history of eye diseases (OR = 4.12; 95%CI = 1.91; 8.89), and experiencing psychological distress (OR= 3.56, 95% CI = 1.05; 12.00). After adjusting for confounders, the EQ-5D index in the FOF group reduced by 0.15 points (Coef. = −0.15; 95%CI= −0.24; −0.05) compared to that of non-FOF group. Our study shows that FOF had an independent negative relationship with HRQOL of patients. Improving knowledge about fall prevention in patients and caregivers could reduce the burden of falls in older people.

Download Full-text