Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia Compared with the General Population

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 2056-2056
Author(s):  
Fabio Efficace ◽  
Paola Fazi ◽  
Francesco Rodeghiero ◽  
Gianluca Gaidano ◽  
Piercarla Schinco ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2056 Background: Recent international guidelines (Rodeghiero F, et al. Blood 113:2386–93, 2009) emphasize the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) and are advocating for more research in this area. However, very little research has been conducted on HRQOL of these patients. Aim: The main objective of this study was to identify specific limitations of HRQOL in pITP patients (ie, chronic, persistent and newly diagnosed patients) in comparison with their peers from the general population. Also, socio-demographic and clinical factors were considered to evaluate HRQOL impairment. Patients and Methods: Data were gathered through an ongoing multicenter observational study that recruits p-ITP patients. HRQOL was the primary endpoint of the study and was assessed with Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) that consists of 36 items covering eight generic health status/QoL domains: physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical health (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE), and mental health (MH). All scales ranging between 0 and 100 with higher scores representing better outcomes. Two summary scores, namely the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) are derived from a weighted combination of the eight scales. Mean SF-36 scores were compared to available national general population reference values and analyses were adjusted for age and gender. Based on previous research, eight points were considered to be a minimally important difference (MID) for the first eight SF-36 scales, while a difference of two points was judged as MID for the PCS and the MCS scores. A score difference at least equal to MID was considered as a clinically meaningful difference. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were also collected to investigate their association with HRQOL outcomes. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used. Results: To date of the 256 pITP patients included in this study, 69%, 16% and 15%, were diagnosed with chronic, persistent and newly diagnosed pITP respectively. Present analysis is based on 175 patients with HRQOL data currently available. At study participation, mean age of patients was 54 years (67% female and 33% male). At least one comorbidity was present in 53% of patients. The median time from initial diagnosis to study entry was 0.3, 8 and 77 months respectively for newly diagnosed, persistent and chronic patients. Age and gender adjusted comparisons with general population norms revealed worse outcomes for the following scales: RP (P<.001), GH (P=.01), SF (P=.002), RE (P=.002). The largest clinically meaningful difference (Δ=13.4 points) was found for the RP domain with mean scores of 58.3 vs. 71.7 respectively for pITP patients and the general population. Age specific comparisons, (18–54, 55–64 and >65 years) suggested an almost uniform pattern in all scales with worse outcomes between pITP patients and population controls among the youngest groups. Statistically and clinically meaningful differences (ie, >8 points) were found in five out of the eight scales of the SF-36 in the youngest group of patients (18–54 years), when compared with their peers, while these differences were not present in the other age group categories. Comorbidity was the main factor influencing HRQOL by independently predicting worse HRQOL outcomes across all domains of the SF-36. SF-36 mean score differences in patients with or without comorbidity, were more than twice the magnitude of a clinically meaningful difference for PF and RP, being respectively: 69.7 vs. 87 and 51.3 vs. 68 points. Conclusions: This study suggests that HRQOL of p-ITP patients is far from optimal. In particular, role limitations (i.e., in work or other daily activities) due to physical health seems the major constraint faced by these patients when compared to their peers in the general population. Comorbidity seems the major factor associated with a poorer HRQOL profile. These findings need to be confirmed with a larger sample size and will eventually help guide the development of patient-centered supportive care programs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 770-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Efficace ◽  
Alessandro Rambaldi ◽  
Eros Di Bona ◽  
Francesco Fabbiano ◽  
Francesco Cottone ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens is currently considered the standard of care for newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients. This combination has greatly contributed to convert APL from a frequently fatal disease to a highly curable one. However, there is lack of data on the impact of such therapies on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Objective The main objective of this study was thus to investigate long-term HRQOL of APL patients previously treated with ATRA plus anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The physical and mental HRQOL profile of these patients was compared with that of matched control subjects from the general population to identify specific areas most in need of attention in long-term follow-up care. A secondary objective was to outline symptoms’ burden from the patients’ perspective. Patients and Methods Data were gathered through an ongoing multicenter survivorship study that recruits APL patients previously enrolled in two large GIMEMA trials (i.e., AIDA0493 and AIDA 2000). In both trials, APL patients were treated with ATRA plus Idrarubicin (AIDA). The main inclusion criterion was having survived the initial diagnosis for more than 5 years and being in complete remission (CR). Generic HRQOL was assessed with the SF-36 that consists of 36 items covering eight generic health status/QoL domains: physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical health (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE) and mental health (MH). All scales ranged between 0 and 100, with the higher scores representing better outcomes. Clinical significance was evaluated and eight points were considered to be a minimally important difference for the eight SF-36 scales. Mean SF-36 scores were compared to available national general population reference values (i.e., 1997 subjects without cancer) and all analyses were adjusted for age and gender. Symptom burden was assessed according to the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Symptom severity was assessed for the following symptoms: fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, drowsiness, poor appetite, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, numbness, difficulty remembering, distress and sadness. All items were rated on a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10, with the higher scores indicating a higher level of symptoms. These were categorized as “mild” (ratings between 0 and 3) and “moderate to severe” (ratings between 4 to 10). Results Analysis is based on 136 adult APL patients who agreed to participate. At study participation, the mean age of patients was 52 years (55% males and 45% females) and the median time from diagnosis was 13 years (range: 4.5-20). Age and gender adjusted comparisons between APL patients and the general population norms revealed worse outcomes for the following scales: RP (P&lt;.001) and RE (P&lt;.001). Such differences were more than six times the magnitude of a clinically meaningful difference (i.e., at least 8 points), respectively for the physical (Δ=51 points) and the emotional scales (Δ=49 points) of the SF-36. Analysis within our patient cohort revealed that older APL patients (i.e., those aged more than 52 years) had a statically significant lower physical functioning (P&lt;.001) and higher pain severity (P=.0448) than younger ones. Investigation of the HRQOL profile of patients by trial participation (i.e., AIDA 0493 vs. AIDA 2000) or time since diagnosis (cut-off median time of 13 years) revealed no difference in all scales of the SF-36. Fatigue was the most burdensome symptom being reported as moderate to severe in 35% of patients. Other frequently reported moderate to severe symptoms were: difficulty in remembering (30%), sadness and distress (29%). Conclusions Although ATRA plus anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens have greatly increased cure rates in APL, the HRQOL of these patients is heavily affected by the consequences of the disease and treatment, that persists many years after diagnosis and treatment. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 2041-2047
Author(s):  
Anna K. Ojala ◽  
Harri Sintonen ◽  
Risto P. Roine ◽  
Timo E. Strandberg ◽  
Camilla Schalin-Jäntti

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and thyroid dysfunction are common in older people, but little is known about how they affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods We assessed HRQoL with the 15D instrument in 329 home-dwelling patients aged ≥ 75 years with stable CVD and compared the results to those of an age- and gender-matched general population (n = 103). We also studied the impact of age, BMI, number of medications, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration, levothyroxine (L-T4) substitution and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) on HRQoL. Results Overall HRQoL was impaired in older people with stable CVD (mean 15D score 0.777 vs 0.801, p = 0.001), and also on single dimensions of breathing, sleeping, discomfort and symptoms, distress, vitality (all p < 0.001), and depression (p = 0.016) compared to the age- and gender-matched general population. Furthermore, in the patients, L-T4 substitution associated with impaired sleeping (p = 0.018) and sexual activity (p = 0.030). Moreover, MMSE points, number of medications used, age (all p < 0.001) and BMI (p = 0.009) predicted impaired HRQoL. Conclusions Older people with stable CVD are characterized by impaired HRQoL compared to age- and gender-matched controls. We demonstrate that this is the consequence of impaired breathing, sleeping, discomfort and symptoms, distress, vitality, and depression. L-T4 substitution has a negative impact on HRQoL in old patients with stable CVD. MMSE score, number of medications, age and BMI predict worse HRQoL.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 2122-2122
Author(s):  
Fabio Efficace ◽  
Paola Fazi ◽  
Cristina Santoro ◽  
Gianluca Gaidano ◽  
Francesco Cottone ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Very little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients diagnosed with primary Immune Thrombocytopenia (pITP). Also, the paucity of available data mainly stems from patients enrolled in randomized controlled trials thus limiting generalizability of findings to patients routinely seen in real world practice. Aim: The main objective of this study is to compare HRQOL of pITP patients with that of their peers from the general population and to investigate whether HRQOL differences exist among those classified as (Rodeghiero et al, Blood. 2009 Mar 12;113(11):2386-93): newly diagnosed, persistent and chronic pITP patients. Methods: Adult patients with pITP were consecutively enrolled, regardless of therapy, in 25 centers. All patients were invited by their treating physicians in the hospital. Consenting patients were requested to complete a battery of patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires. The primary HRQOL outcome measure was the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). It consists of 36 items covering eight generic health status/QoL domains: physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical health (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE), and mental health (MH). To minimize possible bias in comparisons of pITP patients HRQOL outcomes to general population norms, a propensity score matching approach plus further regression adjustment was adopted to select the best possible case-control pairs. The group of potential controls was a representative sample of 1997 adults without the disease from a previous study which provided SF-36 population norms. Controls from these data were matched to pITP patients by an optimal nearest-neighbour matching algorithm based on age, sex, education, and geographic area. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed on the matched dataset to compute adjusted mean differences (α=0.05), using selected a priori key HRQOL confounders as covariates: age, sex, education, geographic area, and marital status. Effect sizes were computed and clinical significance of mean scores SF-36 differences was also estimated. Results: Out of 424 patients invited to participate, 420 returned the questionnaires (99% compliance). At study participation, mean age of patients was 54 years (range 18-89) with the majority being women (N=264, 64%). The mean platelet count at diagnosis was 27.6 x109/L and the mean platelet count at last medical visit, before the HRQOL assessment, was 119 x109/L. Two-hundred twenty patients (50%) had at least 1 comorbidity. At the time of HRQOL assessment there were 82%, 64% and 44% of patients receiving active treatments, respectively in the newly diagnosed, persistent and chronic pITP group. Splenectomy was performed in 8% and 22% of the persistent and chronic pITP patients, respectively. No statistically significant differences existed among the three disease groups with regard to age, gender and presence of comorbidity. When compared with their peers in the general population, worse statistically significant outcomes (P<0.05) were found for five out of the eight SF-36 scales. The largest clinically meaningful difference (Δ=16 points) was found for the RE scale. Comparison by disease group (each of which versus their respective peers in the general population), revealed greater HRQOL impairments in persistent pITP patients across all physical and mental health HRQOL domains. Differences between newly diagnosed and chronic pITP patients with their peers in the general populations were marginal. However, for persistent pITP patients medium to large impairments were found when compared with their peers in the following domains: PF (ES=0.87, P=0.001), RP (ES=0.93, P<0.001), and SF (ES=0.78, P=0.004), RE (ES=0.74, P=0.004), and MH (ES=0.55, P=0.026). Conclusions: Persistent pITP patients are those experiencing the most important limitations in both physical and mental HRQOL domains with respect to their peers from the general population. This information can help physicians to pay special attention to this patient group in their daily clinical practice. Disclosures Gaidano: Celgene: Research Funding; MorphoSys; Roche; Novartis; GlaxoSmithKline; Amgen; Janssen; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Other: Advisory boards. Rodeghiero:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
C-I Hung ◽  
C-Y Liu ◽  
J-L Fuh ◽  
Y-Y Juang ◽  
S-J Wang

This study investigated the impact of migraine on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We prospectively enrolled 151 consecutive psychiatric out-patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD. Migraine and other headache types were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (2004). The Short Form-36 (SF-36) was administered as a generic instrument of HRQoL. Among 151 patients with MDD, migraine ( N = 73, 48.3%) was very common. Comorbidity of migraine predicted a significantly negative impact on all physical subscales and vitality but not on the other mental subscales of the SF-36 after controlling for depression, age and gender. The presence of migraine should be considered as an important physical symptom in clinic-based MDD samples. Simultaneous management of depression and severe headaches, especially migraine, might improve HRQoL in patients with MDD.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2273-2273
Author(s):  
Fabio Efficace ◽  
Michele Baccarani ◽  
Massimo Breccia ◽  
Giuliana Alimena ◽  
Gianantonio Rosti ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2273 Background: While Imatinib (IM) has revolutionized treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), demonstrating outstanding survival figures, currently no data exist on mid to long term impact of disease burden and therapy from the patients’ perspective. Aim: The main objective of this study is to identify specific limitations of quality of life (QoL) in CML survivors who are undergoing first line treatment with IM in comparison with controls from the general population. Patient-reported symptom prevalence was also investigated. Patients and methods: Patients were recruited in 26 centers, randomly selected to geographically represent the whole study country. Patients selection criteria included: being in treatment with IM for at least three years and being in complete cytogenetic response at the time of study entry. All patients were invited by their treating physicians in the hospital to participate and all consenting patients were requested to complete a Health Survey Packet at home. Pre-paid reply envelopes were also provided with the request to send back completed Surveys to an independent National coordinating Data Center. Generic QoL was assessed with the SF-36 that consists of 36 items covering eight generic health status/QoL domains: physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical health (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role limitations due to emotional problems (RE), and mental health (MH). All scales ranging between 0 and 100 with higher scores representing better outcomes. A previously devised patient-reported CML Symptom Checklist was used to investigate 9 symptoms of possible major concern in these patients. Mean SF-36 scores were compared to available national general population reference values and all analyses were adjusted for age and gender. Statistical comparisons were all adjusted for multiple testing. Differences in mean scores were expressed in Cohen effect sizes (ES; with 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 indicating small, medium, and large ES, respectively) and clinical significance. Results: Between March and December 2009, 448 patients were recruited in a large national-based survivorship project. Patients’ compliance was optimal with 94% of patients (N=421) returning a valid Health Survey Packet to the National coordinating Data center. At study participation, mean age of patients was 56 years (59% male and 41% female) and median time of IM therapy was 5 years. Seventy-seven percent of patients were receiving standard dose of 400 mg and 43% had at least one comorbidity. Age and gender adjusted comparisons with general population norms revealed worse outcomes for the following scales: RP (P<.001; ES=0.3), GH (P<.001; ES=0.4) and RE (P=.01; ES=0.2). The largest clinically meaningful difference (Δ=12.3 points) was found for the RP domain with mean scores of 61.4 vs. 73.7 respectively for the CML and the general population. Age specific comparisons, adjusted by gender, (55-64; 65–74 and >75 years) suggested an almost uniform pattern in all scales with worse outcomes between CML patients and population controls among the youngest groups. GH was significantly worse in younger patients (55-64) (P=.03; ES=0.4) and no differences were found in the older age groups compared with population norms. Prevalence of reported symptoms (with any level of concern) was: fatigue (82%); problems with muscular cramps (78%); problems with musculoskeletal pain (72%); problems with edema (70%); skin problems (47%); diarrhea (43%); headache (39%); abdominal discomfort and nausea (28%). Conclusion: This study suggests that while still being on treatment with IM for years, CML patients might expect to have a QoL profile broadly similar to that of general population in many areas. However, role limitations (i.e., in work or other regular daily activities) due to physical health seem the major constraint faced by these patients; there is also an indication that younger patients might be those experiencing major limitations. Additional analyses will be undertaken to ascertain the impact of symptoms and other laboratory and clinical data on specific QoL domains. Such unique patient-reported data supplements conventional information on clinical efficacy of IM and may support both clinicians and patients in making more informed treatment decisions in this area. Disclosures: Rosti: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bristol M. Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-338
Author(s):  
Heli Forssell ◽  
Kirsi Sipilä ◽  
Tuija Teerijoki-Oksa ◽  
Pekka Vartiainen ◽  
Hannu Kautiainen ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimsHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessments have been widely used in pain medicine as they are able to reflect the subjective and multidimensional nature of chronic pain. Studies have shown a consistent impairment in HRQoL in different chronic pain conditions. However, it is not known whether HRQoL is impaired in chronic orofacial pain (OFP). The generic 15D HRQoL instrument has been shown to fare as well as or better than other generic HRQoL instruments in the study of chronic pain. The aim was to investigate HRQoL in patients with chronic OFP using the generic 15D HRQoL instrument. The validity of the instrument was tested by studying the association of the 15D data with pain interference.MethodsOne hundred fifty-one patients (mean age 50 years, SD 15 years, 119 females) were recruited from three tertiary facial pain clinics. HRQoL data of the participants were contrasted with that of an age- and gender- standardized sample of general population by comparing the mean 15D scores and profiles. The data for the general population came from the National Health 2011 Survey representing Finnish population aged 18 years and older. Pain interference was assessed using Brief Pain Inventory. Based on pain interference distribution the participants were divided into tertiles. Statistical comparison between patient and population HRQoL values were performed using Monte-Carlo-type simulations. Statistical significance for the hypothesis of linearity was evaluated by using generalized linear models.ResultsThe mean 15D score of OFP patients (0.824, SD 0.113) was statistically significantly lower than that of the age- and gender-standardized general population (0.929, SD 0.019) (p < 0.001). The difference between the patients and the general population was also clinically important, i.e. over the minimum clinically important difference in the 15D score. All mean 15D dimension values were significantly lower compared with the general population values (p < 0.001 for all dimensions). The largest differences were seen in the dimensions of discomfort and symptoms (0.418, SD 0.222 vs. 0.816, SD 0.027), sleeping (0.693, SD 0.258 vs. 0.838, SD 0.029), and vitality (0.702, SD 0.221 vs. 0.884 SD 0.026). There was a statistically significant linear decrease in the 15D dimension values (p < 0.001) with increasing pain interference. The greatest differences were found on the dimensions of discomfort and symptoms, sleeping and vitality.ConclusionsHRQoL is significantly impaired in patients with chronic OFP. A decrease in the 15D dimension values with increasing pain interference indicated convergent validity between 15D and pain interference.ImplicationsThe findings suggest that 15D is an appropriate instrument for use in the assessment of HRQoL in OFP patients. By showing the usefulness of the 15D, the present study may encourage further use of generic HRQoL assessments in the study of chronic OFP, and contribute e.g. to the implementation of HRQoL as one of the core outcome measures in future treatment studies on chronic OFP.


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