Comparison of Health-Related-Quality-of-Life among Children with Epilepsy and a Healthy Control Group in Tehran

Author(s):  
Morteza Abdollahi ◽  
Mohsen Abbasi-Kangevari ◽  
Ali-Asghar Kolahi ◽  
Ahmad-Reza Farsar

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the quality-of-life (QoL) among children with epilepsy in comparison with a healthy control group. Participants included mothers of 206 children with epilepsy and of 211 healthy controls. The QoL was measured via cross-cultural adaptation of the Quality-of-Life in Children with Epilepsy Questionnaire, which was also modified for the control group. The mean (standard deviation) overall QoL score of children with epilepsy was lower than that of the healthy control group at: 74.3 (8.2) versus 87.9 (6.6), p < 0.001. In addition, all seven dimensions of quality-of-life were lower among children with epilepsy compared with that of the healthy control group. The health-related QoL of children with epilepsy was lower than that of the healthy control group. Children experiencing seizures more frequently, experiencing side effects from antiepileptic drugs, having a history of hospitalization, and having poor school performance displayed lower scores in QoL, which may highlight the impact of the severity of the disease and proper management of seizures on the quality-of-life in children with epilepsy.

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (04) ◽  
pp. 160-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Haufe ◽  
Ralph Hohenberger ◽  
Matti Hein ◽  
Clemens Kratochwil ◽  
Hendrik Rathke ◽  
...  

Summary Introduction: Xerostomia following radioiodine therapy (RIT) in patients suffering from differentiated thyroid cancer is a common side effect in 2 % to 67 % of patients treated with radioiodine (I-131). In order to evaluate the impact of sialendoscopy on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients suffering from therapy induced sialadenitis and xerostomia, we analyzed findings from two dedicated questionnaires (Xerostomy Questionnaire XQ and Xerostomy Inventory XI) in patients before and three months after sialendoscopy. Procedures: In total, 12 patients suffering from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (10 women and 2 men) were evaluated. All patients had experienced conservative management. Patients were offered a sialendoscopy procedure if no major contradictions were present. Patients who denied the procedure formed the control group. Pre- and (three months) postoperative HRQOL was measured with the Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ) and the Xerostomia Inventory (XI), as well as by a pre- and post-interventional salivary gland scintigram. Patients were graded according to their sialendoscopical findings. Results: Interventional group presented with significant improvements in HRQOL measurements regarding XQ and XI-scores three months postoperatively. Control group showed no significant changes in the XQ or the XI scores. Number of RIT and cumulative activity of I-131 did not correlate with higher disease grade in regards to sialendoscopical findings nor did it correlate with higher XQand XI scores. Pre- and post-interventional salivary gland scintigram stated that parotid glands are more severely damaged than submandibular glands (SMG), but no significant scintigraphically changes could be detected after sialendoscopy. Conclusion: Sialendoscopy in patients suffering from therapy induced sialadenitis and xerostomia seems to be beneficial when evaluating the impact on HRQOL. Functional parameters measured by salivary gland scintigram did not show significant changes in post-interventional scintigrams.


2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 726-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Gomide Vasconcelos ◽  
Vitor Geraldi Haase ◽  
Eduardo de Paula Lima ◽  
Marco Aurélio Lana-Peixoto

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important marker for health-related impacts on individuals with chronic diseases. This HRQOL study compares multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to a socio-demographically-matched healthy control group. HRQOL was assessed by means of a modular instrument (DEFU/DEFIS), which allows comparisons between diseased and healthy individuals. Main goal of the study was to obtain pertinent data to build a more reliable theoretical framework concerning HRQOL in MS. Another aim was to test the hypothesis of the so-called happiness paradox, according to which disabled individuals could maintain reasonable levels of HRQOL. Results show that MS individuals present lower levels of HRQOL in comparison to healthy controls, arguing against the happiness paradox hypothesis. Preservation of HRQOL levels against certain levels of disability may be restricted to a group of patients.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A143-A144
Author(s):  
Kelly Showen ◽  
Kathleen O’Hora ◽  
Beatriz Hernandez ◽  
Laura Lazzeroni ◽  
Jamie Zeitzer ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Insomnia affects 30–48% of older adults and impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Numerous studies report Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I) as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia symptoms, with few examining the impact of CBT-I on mental and physical aspects of HRQoL. While limited research suggests that CBT-I leads to improvements in HRQoL, the impact of the cognitive versus behavioral components of CBT-I on HRQoL is unknown. Methods 128 older adults with insomnia (mean age=69, 66% female, 19% minority) were randomized to receive cognitive therapy (CT), behavior therapy (BT), or CBT-I. The Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) was collected at baseline, post-treatment and six-month follow-up. Split-plot linear mixed models with age and sex as covariates to assess within and between subject changes were used to test intervention, time, and interaction effects on the mental health and physical well-being domains of HRQoL. Significance for all effects was defined as p &lt; 0.05. The effect size (d) was calculated by dividing the difference between means by the root-mean-squared error of the mixed effects model. Results The mental health-related QoL improved over time independent of treatment (Main effect of time: F(2, 202) = 6.51, p &lt; 0.002). The interaction failed to reach significance (Interaction: F(4, 202) = 1.19, p = .31). Simple effects revealed significant improvements among CBT-I participants at six months (p = .02, d = .53) and CT participants at post-treatment (p = .00, d = .79) and six months (p = .03, d = .66), but not among BT participants for either time point (p = .32, d = .24; p = .16, d = .35). Treatment did not improve physical health-related QoL over time (F(2, 202) = 1.01, p = .37) nor was there a significant interaction (F(4, 202) = .46, p = .76). Conclusion These findings suggest that CBT-I, particularly the CT component, may be effective in improving mental health-related QoL outcomes for older adults with insomnia. In contrast, neither CBT-I nor its component treatments were effective in improving physical health-related QoL. Support (if any) NIMHR01MH101468-01; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VAPAHCS


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S25-S26
Author(s):  
Sebastiaan Siegerink ◽  
Marië Nijpels ◽  
Sander Albers ◽  
Frédérique Jurgens ◽  
Felix K Pettai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The long-term effects of COVID-19 are still unknown. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 among survivors after one year. Methods All confirmed COVID-19 cases who presented at OLVG hospital in Amsterdam during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were invited to participate in our prospective observational cohort study. The participants were divided into three subgroups: patients not admitted, admitted to the general ward and admitted to the ICU. Questionnaires were sent at 3, 6 and 12 months after presentation. We used the Research and Development – 36-item health survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the PTSS Checklist for DSM-5. We compared the RAND-36 scores at the timepoints with a Dutch healthy control population in 2020 and between the three subgroups using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Of the 466 confirmed cases, 75 patients died of COVID-19, 64 patients were lost to follow up and 12 patients were excluded because they were unable to complete the questionnaires due to mental illness or cognitive impairment, they moved back to their home country or refused to participate. Of the remaining 315 patients, 182 (57.8%) completed the questionnaires at 3 months. Subsequently, 163 patients provided informed consent for follow up. At 6 and 12 months, 98 (60.1%) and 131 (80.4%) completed the survey. The average score of all domains at 3 months was 58, compared to 79 at twelve months and 81 in the control group. There was a statistically significant increase from 3 and 12 and 6 and 12 months (figure 1). At twelve months participants recovered to levels of the healthy control group (N=459), except for the ICU group, who still experienced bodily pain and decreased physical function. The improvement was most noticeable in the domains of social functioning, role limitations – physical and role limitations – emotional. The percentage of patients with abnormal total HADS scores (cutoff at 16) and PCL5- scores (cutoff at 33) at 3 months decreased from 27.8 to 22.1% and 18.9 to 7.6% at 12 months, respectively (figure 2 and 3). Figure 1. RAND-36: Health-related quality of life after COVID-19 of all patients. Blue line is after 3 months, orange line is after 6 months, green line is after 12 months, yellow line is healthy control. The p-value in the right-upper corner shows statistical significant difference between all total scores, the asterisks indicate significance between groups. PF = physical functioning; SF = social functioning; RP = role limitations–physical; RE = role limitations–emotional; MH = mental health; VT = vitality; BP = pain; GH = general health; HC = health change. Figure 2 The blue column is after 3 months, the orange after 6 months and the green after 12 months. The numbers above the columns are percentages per group. Figure 3 The blue column is after 3 months, the orange after 6 months and the green after 12 months. The numbers above the columns are percentages per group. Conclusion Although, COVID-19 may cause a decreased health-related quality of life and impaired mental health, this study shows important recovery up to normal levels after one year. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Lambrinou ◽  
A Protopapas ◽  
V Barberis ◽  
L Paikousis ◽  
M Kyriakou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In order to improve health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of heart failure (HF) patients, different disease management programs have been developed at the discharged and follow-up phase. Aim To determine the effectiveness of a three-month telephone follow-up, a telephone follow-up with education before discharge, or education only before discharge (all performed by nurse specialists) on HR-QoL in HF patients. The results of the randomized clinical trial (RCT) MEETinCY are presented. Method This is a multicenter RCT with 3 different intervention groups (IGs) and one control group (CG) The first IG included only patients' education before discharge (E). The second IG included patients' education and telephone follow-up after discharge for three months (ET). The third IG included only telephone follow-up for three months (T). The Greek version of the MLHFQ was used. The statistical analysis of the impact of the intervention was done using ANCOVA. The magnitude of the effect of the intervention was studied with the Cohen's d coefficient for repeated measurements. The exploration of clinical and demographic factors in the relationship of HR-QoL was done by using linear coefficients of regression. The investigation of the robustness of the results and the intention to treat was carried out by sensitivity analysis. The management of missing value of the MLHFQ was done by using multiple imputation. Results The study included 334 patients. The analysis demonstrated that the study groups differentiates the level of HR-QoL post-intervention measurement in terms of the Overall QoL (F=2.8, 47, p=0.04). The mean level of Overall HR-QoL adjusted for the pre-intervention measurement, in the T: 40.3 (SE=2.2) and ET: 42 (2.2) groups was higher than that of the E group: 39 (2.2) and the CG: 47 (2). Study group differences were also detected statistically in the Social dimension (F=3.4, p=0.02) but not in in the Physical dimension (F=1.9, p=0.11) or the Emotional dimension (F=0.99, p=0.40). However, in the ET and T groups, higher adjusted average levels of the Physical and Social dimension are observed compared to the E and Control group. Overall, IGs exhibited low to moderate effect size improvements (drm = 0.4) while the CG had negligible improvement (drm = 0.02). Women exhibit lower overall HR-QoL scores compared to men by 13.9 points in the MLHFQ scale (b=13.9, p<0.015). NYHA IV (38.5, p<0.001), NYHA III (29.5, p<0.001) and NYHA II (9.15, p<0.001) patients exhibit worse overall HR-QoL compared to NYHA I patients. Conclusion Patients' education before discharge was not found to have an important role over the three- months telephone follow-up after discharge. On the other hand, improvement was found in patients who had the telephone intervention and the possibility to call researchers (nurses) whenever they needed. Patients seem to need continuing communication and support and to feel the availability of contacting and seeking help when needed. Acknowledgement/Funding Cyprus University of Technology's state funded budget [Startup Fund EX2007 (04)]


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunther Van Bost ◽  
Stefaan Van Damme ◽  
Geert Crombez

ObjectiveAn acquired brain injury (ABI) is a challenge for an individual’s quality of life (QOL). In several chronic illnesses acceptance has been found to be associated with a better health-related quality of life. This study investigated whether this relationship is also found in patients with ABI. We also explored the impact of the perceived ability to live according to one’s own values (life-values-match).MethodsA total of 68 individuals (18–65 years of age) with an acquired brain injury completed a battery of questionnaires. The relations between health-related QOL (SF-36) and disease specific QOL (EBIQ; European Brain Injury Questionnaire), and personal values (Schwartz Values Inventory) and acceptance (ICQ; Illness Cognitions Questionnaire) were investigated. An additional question measured the life-values-match. Rehabilitation professionals reported the extent of impairment involved.ResultsAcceptance was positively associated with mental aspects of health-related QOL and the EBIQ Core Scale, after demographic variables and the extent of impairment were introduced in the regression. In a post hoc analysis we found that the life-values-match mediated the relationship between acceptance and mental aspects of QOL.ConclusionIn patients with an ABI, promoting acceptance may be useful to protect QOL. Strengthening the life-values-match may be a way to accomplish this.


2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (8) ◽  
pp. 1774-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. G. L VAN CLEEF ◽  
B. H. B. VAN BENTHEM ◽  
E. J. M. VERKADE ◽  
M. M. L. VAN RIJEN ◽  
M. F. Q. KLUYTMANS-VAN DEN BERGH ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThere is limited knowledge about the effect of livestock-associated methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(LA-MRSA) carriage on health-related quality of life (QoL). With this study, we explored whether LA-MRSA causes infections or affects health-related QoL in pig farmers. This prospective cohort study surveyed persons working on 49 farrowing pig farms in The Netherlands for 1 year (2010–2011). On six sampling moments, nasal swabs, environmental samples and questionnaires on activities and infections were collected. At the end of the study year, persons were asked about their QoL using the validated SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires. Of 120 persons, 44 (37%) were persistent MRSA carriers. MRSA carriage was not associated with infections, use of antimicrobials, healthcare contact and health-related QoL items in univariate or multivariate analysis, most likely due to the ‘healthy worker effect’. Despite high carriage rates, the impact of LA-MRSA carriage in this population of relatively healthy pig farmers on health and health-related QoL appears limited; more research is needed for confirmation.


Author(s):  
Phillippa Carnemolla ◽  
Catherine Bridge

The multi-dimensional relationship between housing and population health is now well recognised internationally, across both developing and developed nations. This paper examines a dimension within the housing and health relationship – accessibility – that to date has been considered difficult to measure. This paper reports on the mixed method results of larger mixed-method, exploratory study designed to measure the impact of home modifications on Health-Related Quality of Life, supported by qualitative data of recipients’ experiences of home modifications. Data was gathered from 157 Australian HACC clients, who had received home modifications. Measurements were taken for both before and after home modifications and reveal that home modifications were associated with an average 40% increase in Health-Related Quality of Life levels. The qualitative results revealed that participants positively associated home modifications across six effect themes: increased safety and confidence, improved mobility at home, increased independence, supported care-giving role, increased social participation, and ability to return home from hospital. This exploratory research gives an insight into the potential for accessible architecture to impact improvements in community health and wellbeing.


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