The effectiveness of various interventions versus standard stripping in patients with varicose veins in terms of quality of life

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 439-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Argyriou ◽  
Christos Papasideris ◽  
George A Antoniou ◽  
Efstratios Georgakarakos ◽  
Nikolaos Papanas ◽  
...  

Purpose Lower limb varicose veins have a significant effect upon the quality of life and a considerable socioeconomic impact despite their relatively benign nature. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of various therapeutic strategies among patients with varicose veins to surgical ligation and vein stripping on the basis of quality of life. Methods PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were systemically searched from 1 January 2000 until 23 December 2015 for studies reporting outcome on the quality of life of different treatment techniques for varicose veins. We used Cohen’s d to make the outcomes of the reported scales comparable. Heterogeneity was calculated with the use of the Q statistic and the I2. Results A total of 1047 participants were randomized across all analyzed trials. The number of participants in a single trial ranged from 30 to 308. The majority of participants in any trial were C2 on the CEAP scores. Overall, the quality of evidence was low. For the meta-analysis performed at 12 months postintervention (seven studies, n = 1047 patients) and after random effects meta-analyses due to high heterogeneity, no differences are observed between intervention and surgical ligation and vein stripping. The pooled estimate is −0.001 and the 95% confidence interval is −0.069 to 0.067 with a p = 0.98. In the case of the 24 months, postintervention analysis (six studies, n = 840 patients) the inference is almost identical. The effect of various interventional modes of treatment compared to surgical ligation and vein stripping is negligible in terms of clinical outcomes and quality of life so that surgical ligation and vein stripping versus the other interventional procedures were equally effective approaches to treat great saphenous vein incompetence in terms of quality of life measurements. Conclusion The procedures were at least equally efficient in treating patients with varicose vein disease in terms of quality of life assessment tools at 12 and 24 months compared to surgical ligation and vein stripping.

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Kelleher ◽  
T R A Lane ◽  
I J Franklin ◽  
A H Davies

Varicose veins are an extremely common condition causing morbidity; however, with current financial pressures, treatment of such benign diseases is controversial. Many procedures allow the treatment of varicose veins with minimal cost and extensive literature supporting differing approaches. Here we explore the underlying evidence base for treatment options, the effect on clinical outcome and the cost-benefit economics associated with varicose vein treatment. The method of defining clinical outcome with quality-of-life assessment tools is also investigated to explain concepts of treatment success beyond abolition of reflux.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geórgia Alcântara Alencar Melo ◽  
Letícia Lima Aguiar ◽  
Renan Alves Silva ◽  
Francisco Gilberto Fernandes Pereira ◽  
Fabiana Larissa Barbosa da Silva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the effects of acupuncture techniques in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: a systematic review conducted in six databases, from September to December 2017, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses’ criteria. The following descriptors were used: Acupuncture AND Chronic Renal Insufficiency AND Clinical Trial. Results: nine studies were selected; the acupuncture techniques used were auriculotherapy, electroacupuncture and acupressure aimed at improving quality of life, fatigue, sleep and clinical variables of the disease. The studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. Studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. There was no statistical significance in the improvement of serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate. Methodological and assessment tools’ divergence made impossible meta-analysis Conclusions: studies reinforce the positive effect of acupuncture in improving quality of life, fatigue and sleep in patients.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5040-5040
Author(s):  
Frank V. McL. Booth ◽  
Johnny Mahlangu ◽  
Howard Levy

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Hemophilia A or B carries significant morbidity - progressive throughout life. The mainstay of treatment is regular factor replacement to treat or prevent bleeding episodes. Up to 30% of Hemophilia A and up to 5% of Hemophilia B develop neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) rendering factor replacement therapy ineffective. Hemophilia patients with inhibitors are managed with bypassing agents for treatment or prevention of bleeds. Prophylaxis is not adequate in inhibitor patients using currently available bypassing products due to their very short half-life (2-3 hours for rFVIIa; 5-6 hours for aPCC) so they are treated on an episodic basis for bleeds. On-demand treatment results in poor quality of life, significantly higher mortality and inferior musculoskeletal outcomes in inhibitor patients when compared to patients without inhibitors. The quality of life of hemophilia has been evaluated using EQ-5D and Haem-A-QOL and impaired activity has been measured with Haemophilia Activity List (HAL). The EQ-5D is a widely used internationally validated general-purpose quality of life instrument however it lacks granularity and is not specific to Hemophilia. Haem A-QOL (Mackensen et al 2004) and Hemophilia Activities List (HAL) (Van Genderen FR et al 2006.) were developed and validated specifically to address the typical disabilities and life issues faced by patients with Hemophilia. Marzeptacog alfa (activated) (MarzAA) was created using a structure-based rational protein design and has 4 amino acid substitutions to enhance the biological properties of FVIIa. This variant molecule has substantially (6-7x) greater potency than wild-type FVIIa, a greater half-life and sufficient bioavailability when given subcutaneously (SQ). There is currently a paucity of data on quality of life (QoL) of inhibitor patients. We evaluated the baseline QoL and functional activity of inhibitor patients enrolled in the MAA-201 study using the EQ-5D , Haem-A-QoL and HAL compared the results to those of reference hemophilia patients without inhibitors. METHODS A phase 2 / 3 open-label study evaluating safety and efficacy of MarzAA in hemophilia patients with inhibitors is underway MAA-201, (NCT03407651) Subject eligibility required an annualized bleeding rate of >12 and documented inhibitor to replacement factor. The primary aim of the trial was the complete prevention of breakthrough bleeding for 50 days by the daily administration of a fixed SQ dose of MarzAA. If breakthrough bleeding occurred, up to three dose escalations were permitted. At baseline and study conclusion, each subject completed quality of life assessment tools the EQ-5D, Haem-A-QOL and the Hemophilia Activities List Haem-A-QOL assesses subjects across ten domains and provides a summarized score. Subjects in the present trial (MARZAAPOP) were compared to baseline values for subjects with severe hemophilia but without inhibitors recruited into a long-term prophylaxis trial (The A-LONG trial - ALONGREFPOP). Mean baseline Haem-A-QOL summed score in the A-LONG trial was 29.3 ±15.7 contrasting sharply with a mean baseline summed score of 42 ±15.2 for subjects in the present trial (Table 1) HAL is more motor function oriented and assesses patients across ten domains of which seven assess basic functionality and three are composites intended to assess disability in performing complex tasks. HAL provides both raw and normalized scores. Normalized scores provide meaningful output in the case of missing data elements. For each domain and for the sum score, a raw score of 0 and a normalized score of 100 indicates no functional deficit. Figure 1 provides a visual comparison between recruited subjects (MARZAAPOP) in the present trial and the population used to validate the HAL tool. (HALREFPOP). CONCLUSION: In examining recruits into the present trial, it is clear that inhibitor patients have generally worse functional scores than either of two reference groups. Effective long-term prophylaxis is expected to produce measurable improvement in QOL scores in this hard-to-treat population. Disclosures Booth: Catalyst Biosciences: Consultancy. Mahlangu:Sanofi: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; LFB: Consultancy; NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Chugai: Consultancy; Catalyst Biosciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; Biomarin: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Biogen: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Spark: Consultancy, Research Funding. Levy:Catalyst Biosciences: Employment, Equity Ownership.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Daniel Ferreira Fagundes ◽  
Marcos Túlio Costa ◽  
Bárbara Bispo da Silva Alves ◽  
Maria Madalena Soares Benício ◽  
Lanna Pinheiro Vieira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: This study comprises a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed to estimate the prevalence of dementia in long-term care institutions (LTCIs). Methods: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Original transversal and longitudinal articles published until July 2020 were eligible in this review. Databases PubMed/MedLine, Web of Science, Scopus and ScienceDirect were searched. Overall prevalence and confidence intervals were estimated. Heterogeneity was calculated according to the index of heterogeneity (I2). Results: One hundred seventy-five studies were found in all databases and 19 studies were meta-analyses, resulting in an overall prevalence of 53% (CI 46-59%; p < 0.01) of demented older adults living in LTCIs. Conclusion: Prevalence of dementia is higher in older adults living in LTCIs than those living in general communities. This data shows a worrying reality that needs to be changed. There is a need for a better understanding of the elements that cause this increase in dementia in LTCFs to direct actions to improve the quality of life and health of institutionalized elderly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-514
Author(s):  
Tonderai Washington Shumba ◽  
Desderius Haufiku ◽  
Kabwebwe Honoré Mitonga

PurposeFor the past four decades, there is no evidence of a consensus on the suitable community-based rehabilitation (CBR) evaluation methodologies. To this end, the purpose of this study is to provide a narrative review on CBR evaluations and the potential of photovoice method when used alone and when used in combination with quality of life assessment tools as CBR evaluation methodologies.Design/methodology/approachA narrative review was undertaken, but including some aspects of scoping review methodology.FindingsThirty-three full-text articles were included for review. Three key findings were an overview of the evolution of CBR evaluation; the use of photovoice method in CBR evaluation and the use of photovoice method in combination with quality of life assessment tools in CBR evaluation.Research limitations/implicationsPhotovoice methodology was found to be participatory in nature and as has the potential to elicit the experiences of persons with disabilities. However, photovoice falls short of measuring the quality of life of persons with disabilities, thus will need to be collaborated with another assessment tool. A combination of photovoice and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF and WHOQOL-Dis assessment has a potential to give an adequate representation of the voices of persons with disabilities and their quality of life.Originality/valueThere is need for changes in CBR evaluation methodologies in response to the evolution of disability models from medical model to human rights model. Thus CBR evaluation methodologies should embrace the diversity among persons with disabilities in interpreting life experiences and quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 273-273
Author(s):  
Catherine Mercier ◽  
Kenza Drareni ◽  
Anestis Dougkas ◽  
Fadila Farsi ◽  
Pamela Funk-Debleds ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Monitoring psychosocial, emotional, and hedonic aspects of food behavior is important to understand cancer patients’ distress and help to reduce risks of malnutrition. However, to date, there is no specific tool to measure the impact of diet, eating behavior, and chemotherapy side effects on patients’ food-related quality of life during cancer and its treatments. The objective was to develop and validate a questionnaire that aims to assess the food-related quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods Relevant items from the existing food-related quality of life assessment tools were selected to compose the present 46-item questionnaire. The validation of the questionnaire was conducted in 276 healthy volunteers and 173 cancer patients. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed in both groups, construct and discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability were calculated. Results The questionnaire was perceived as clear and required less than14 minutes for completion (93% complete responses) in a pre-test (n = 156). The EFA allowed the inclusion of 9 dimensions in the food-related quality of life questionnaire. Common patterns between patients and healthy volunteers (factor loadings ≥ 0.4 in both groups) were used to calculate scores by dimension. Scores in the dimensions of adapting diet and sensorial discomfort (taste/odor) were higher in cancer patients, whilst scores in the dimension of discomfort in satiety were higher in healthy volunteers. Among patients with cancer, the total scores in sensorial discomfort, digestive discomfort, and discomfort in satiety were higher under chemotherapy than no treatment. Reproducibility after one week was in increasing order; digestive discomfort 0.6, adapting diet 0.61, products’ quality 0.67, cooking 0.75, healthy diet 0.76, eating and pleasure 0.80, discomfort in satiety 0.82, and sensorial discomfort 0.85. Conclusions This 46-item questionnaire can discriminate cancer patients versus healthy volunteers, and patients receiving vs those not receiving chemotherapy. A good to very good reproducibility was found for the most important factors of food-related quality of life of patients with cancer, i.e, eating and pleasure, sensorial discomfort, and discomfort in satiety. Funding Sources This study is funded by La Région Auvergne Rhône-Aples and La Métropôle de Lyon.


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