scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health-related quality of life of adults visiting emergency departments and primary care settings in Alberta

Author(s):  
Fatima Al Sayah ◽  
Markus Lahtinen ◽  
Roland Simon ◽  
Benjamin Higgins ◽  
Arto Ohinmaa ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aapo Tahkola ◽  
Päivi Korhonen ◽  
Hannu Kautiainen ◽  
Teemu Niiranen ◽  
Pekka Mäntyselkä

Abstract Background Effective prevention and treatment of hypertension is one of the most potential interventions in terms of preventing cardiovascular deaths and disabilities. However, the treatment control is often poor. This may be partly explained by the impact of hypertension diagnoses and treatment on health-related quality of life. Quality of life is also an important outcome for a hypertensive patient. Most of the previous studies on health-related quality of life in hypertension have concentrated on patients with treated hypertension and less is known about the initiation of medication and the first treatment year. Methods In this interventional study, we followed 111 primary care patients with newly diagnosed hypertension in real world primary care setting in Finland for 12 months. Results We found significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, as well as modest decrease in cholesterol levels and alcohol consumption. However, the health-related quality of life also slightly deteriorated during the first treatment year. Conclusions Our study shows that the initiation of hypertension treatment results in cardiovascular risk decrease among newly diagnosed Finnish hypertensive patients, but it is accompanied by small negative impact on health-related quality of life. However, the deterioration in health-related quality of life is of small magnitude and earlier research demonstrates several measures to enhance treatment and avoid impairment in health-related quality of life. Trial registration ClinicalTrials NCT02377960 (Date of registration: 04/03/2015).


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e037131
Author(s):  
Lisa Van Wilder ◽  
Els Clays ◽  
Brecht Devleesschauwer ◽  
Peter Pype ◽  
Pauline Boeckxstaens ◽  
...  

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, knowledge about those diseases and predictors with a greater impact on patients’ HRQoL as well as knowledge on the complex relationship between HRQoL and comorbidities is lacking. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of NCDs on patients’ HRQoL, with a focus on multimorbidity and socioeconomic status.Methods and analysisA primary care-based cross-sectional study is conducted in Flanders (Belgium). Study participants (≥18 years) are medically diagnosed with at least one of the following diseases: cardiometabolic disorders, mental disorders and musculoskeletal disorders. A minimum of 50 general practitioners will participate to recruit participants (convenient sample) and a total of 531 patients will be enrolled (voluntary response sample). Each participant will complete a paper-based questionnaire to gather research outcomes. Statistical analyses will be performed using multiple linear regression models with HRQoL as main outcome parameter, adjusted for possible confounders. This study will generate new evidence on the key predictors of HRQoL in patients with NCDs, and particularly provide new insights in multimorbidity to improve the quality of care in primary care, to support patients’ self-management and to allocate resources more effectively.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Ethical Committee of Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium (reference number: B670201939629) prior to the beginning of the recruitment. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.


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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