Quality of Life of Patients Subjected to Specific Allergen Immunotherapy

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-58
Author(s):  
Barbara Kubik ◽  
Urszula Romanowska ◽  
Elżbieta Bednarz

<b>Introduction:</b> At present, allergic diseases are some of the most common chronic diseases affecting all spheres of human life. The only form of causative treatment of allergic diseases, apart from elimination of the sensitizing factor, is the specific allergen immunotherapy. The symptoms of allergic diseases can cause a number of consequences, including reduction of patient activity, negatively affect social relationships, ways of spending free time, and also cause sleep disorders. Assessing the quality of life in allergic diseases provides us with knowledge of the patient’s psychological and social functioning, and is a valuable addition to the review of the effectiveness of treatment for allergic diseases, allowing us to assess the patient’s overall well-being. <br/><b>Aim of the study:</b> The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients using specific allergen immunotherapy. <br/><b>Material and methods:</b> 128 subjects were included in the study, but 100 questionnaires were used for the analysis. The study group was comprised of patients undergoing specific allergen immunotherapy over the age of 18 years. In this paper a diagnostic survey was used as a research method. The tools used are the standard questionnaire SF-36 and the questionnaire survey. <br/><b>Results:</b> In the present study, it was observed that the overall quality of life of people affected by allergic diseases, as measured by the SF-36 questionnaire, can be assessed as quite good. Respondents subjected to specific allergen immunotherapy consider this method of treatment positively influencing their health as they reduce the symptoms of allergies. As many as 91% of the respondents think that specific immunotherapy affects them to reduce the symptoms of allergies. It has also been shown that the length of therapy has no effect on reducing the symptoms of allergies. <br/><b>Conclusions:</b> The overall quality of life of patients is quite good, best evaluated in the domains of physical fitness, limitation of activity caused by emotional problems and changes in health status. Researchers positively evaluate the effect of immunotherapy on their health as it reduces the symptoms of allergies. Respondents have little knowledge about how to prevent exposure to allergens. Despite a positive assessment of the effectiveness of immunotherapy, the vast majority of respondents feel the need for additional antihistamines.

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-206
Author(s):  
Ewa Kawalec-Kajstura ◽  
Magdalena Chomicka ◽  
Joanna Sułkowska ◽  
Grażyna Puto ◽  
Ilona Kuźmicz

AbstractIntroduction. Allergic diseases belong to the most important health problems responsible for the incidence of various types of discomfort. The application of specific allergen therapy (SAI) is becoming a more and more frequent method aimed at treating allergic diseases. However, this approach requires a strict adherence to medical treatment, which may affect patients’ quality of life.Aim. Assessment of quality of life and everyday functioning in the group of patients who underwent a specific allergen therapy.Material and methods. The study group consisted of 80 adult patients who decided to undergo SAI treatment and were treated in two health care facilities in Małopolska region. The study included an assessment of life quality and selected aspects of functioning (as well as their retrospective assessment). As far as the applied methods are concerned, the study was based on the authors’ own questionnaire and an abbreviated version of the World Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire.Results. SAI treatment made it possible to reduce both the incidence (Me=4.00 to 2.00; p<0.001) and intensity (Me=4.00 to 2.00; p<0.001) of allergic symptoms. Also the discomfort caused by the allergy was decreased (Me=4.00 to 2.00; p<0.001). Moreover, some improvement in general well-being (Me=4.00 to 5.00; p<0.001) and life satisfaction (Me=4.00 to 5.00; p<0.001) was observed.Conclusions. Specific allergen immunotherapy seems to be worth considering as it improves patients’ life satisfaction and reduces discomfort caused by the allergy itself.


2020 ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
E. Yu. Gan ◽  
L. P. Evstigneeva

Purpose of the study. Assessing the association between the life quality of patients with Sjogren’s Disease and ongoing therapy with various disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.Material and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the regional rheumatology center of the consultative diagnostic clinic of the Sverdlovsk Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1. This work is based on the results of a simultaneous study of 74 patients with primary Sjogren’s Disease (SD), distributed in three comparison groups receiving various disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs chlorambucil, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. The diagnosis of SD was carried out according to European-American criteria AECGC (2002) [18]. In order to analyze the quality of life of patients with SD, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‑36) was used. Statistical data processing was carried out using Statistica 7.0 program.Results. Assessment of the quality of life of patients with SD, which is an integrative criterion of human health and well-being, revealed the absence of statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) on eight scales and two health components of the SF‑36 questionnaire in the analyzed groups that differ in the treatment of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs chlorambucil, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine.Conclusions. The obtained data indicate an equivalent quality of life in SD patients treated with different disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs methotrexate, chlorambucil and hydroxychloroquine, and therefore hydroxychloroquine can be considered as an alternative basic therapy in patients with SD with certain limitations and contraindications methotrexate and chlorambucil.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. A74
Author(s):  
Ana Julia Teixeira ◽  
Luciana Kase Tanno ◽  
Luciana Kase Tanno ◽  
Romero Kopke ◽  
Cintia Bassani ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Rhanderson N Cardoso ◽  
Daniel Garcia ◽  
Alexandre Benjo ◽  
Francisco Macedo ◽  
Cesar Benjo ◽  
...  

Background: Permanent pacemakers (PPM) have improved cardiovascular outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in patients with a wide variety of cardiac rhythm disturbances. Nevertheless, misperceptions about the safety of daily activities (SODA) and associated factors can compromise patients’ absolute well-being. We aimed to study factors associated with worst QoL in PPM patients. Methods: PPM patients from a tertiary hospital answered an 18-question questionnaire about their perception on the SODA, which was scored based on misperception rate. Patients also answered SF-36, a validated QoL questionnaire which is scored from 0 to 100 on each of its 8 scales. Baseline characteristics were compared to average on SF-36 scales in a cross-sectional model by t-test for categorical variables and by univariable regression for continuous variables. Statistical analysis was done with Stata software 10.0 (Texas). Results: A total of 75 PPM patients aged 65.3±12 years were included, of which 31 (41%) were males. Most common reason for PPM was 3rd degree atrioventricular block (44%). Body mass index (p=0.019) and misperception rate on SODA (p=0.003) presented a significant negative regression coefficient with SF-36 average. Age, gender, average income, Chagas disease etiology, diabetes, hypertension, ejection fraction, NYHA classification, previous myocardial infarction (MI), smoking history and peripheral vascular disease were not significantly associated with SF-36 QoL results. Conclusions: In a cross-sectional study, body mass index and misperceptions about the safety of daily-life activities were associated with worst quality of life in patients with permanent pacemaker. These results suggest that optimal physician education of patients and their families about the SODA for PPM patients may ultimately improve patients’ well-being.


Author(s):  
Daniela Angerame Yela ◽  
Iuri de Paula Quagliato ◽  
Cristina Laguna Benetti-Pinto

Abstract Objective To describe clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and assess their quality of life (QOL) during 6 months of medical treatment. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study of 60 women diagnosed with DIE either by surgery or image methods (ultrasound or magnetic resonance), who received clinical treatment for at least 6 months in the Universidade de Campinas, Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Both the SF-36 and the EHP-30 questionnaires were used to assess the quality of life. Results The mean age of the patients was 37.7 ± 6.0 years old, with 50% presenting dysmenorrhea; 57% dyspareunia; and 50% chronic pelvic pain. The SF-36 and the EHP-30 revealed impaired quality of life. In the SF-36, the worst domains were limitation due to emotional aspects (40.2 ± 43.1) and self-esteem and disposition (46.1 ± 24.8), whereas in the EHP-30 they were social well-being (50.3 ± 30.6); infertility (48.0 ± 36.3); and sexual intercourse (54.0 ± 32.1). Conclusion Although clinically treated, women with deep endometriosis present impairment in different domains of quality of life regardless of the questionnaire used for evaluation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 377-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Pontoni ◽  
S. Ferrari ◽  
D. Gabbieri ◽  
I. Pedulli ◽  
D. Gambetti ◽  
...  

IntroductionCardiovascular disorders are the first cause of death among over-80 year-old patients and cardio-surgery is sometimes the one therapeutic option. No scientific assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) or other psycho-socially relevant consequences has been carried out. Aim of the study was to quantify and describe QoL on over-80 patients after cardio-surgery.MethodsStudy 1 was a one-arm cohort study on 192 subjects who underwent cardio-surgery between years 2003 and 2005 and were interviewed by phone 5 to 7 years after by means of SF-36 and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, matching these with socio-demographics and clinical pre/post operative variables. Study 2 was a pre-post study on 21 subjects who underwent cardio-surgery in 2009-2010, who were interviewed face-to-face before the interventions and 6 months after, including assessment of anxiety and depression via the HADS.ResultsStudy 1 patients reported satisfaction with treatment in 80%, freedom from cardiac symptoms in 62% and overall well-being in 78% of cases. Study 2 patients reported statistically significant improvement of QoL (SF-36 mean total score 57.1 vs. 73.5, p = .001), clinical conditions and anxiety-depressive symptoms (p = .001 both for HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression).ConclusionsAssessment of QoL and anxiety-depressive symptoms should be included in routine evaluation of elderly surgical patients, though the present study also suggested the need for improvement of methodology of interview, being phone-calling and traditional self-assessment psychometric instruments particularly inappropriate for this patient population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prachita P. Walankar ◽  
Vrushali P. Panhale ◽  
Manali M. Patil

Chronic shoulder pain is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon with multiple causative factors involved in its perpetuation. Alteration of central nervous system processing along with the central sensitization is a predominant feature in chronic pain. Reduction in physical function has an impact on the psychological well-being of an individual. The aim of the study was to compare pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, disability and quality of life in chronic shoulder pain patients with and without central sensitization. Eighty chronic unilateral shoulder pain patients in the age group of 40 to 60 years were recruited. Of them, 38 were chronic shoulder pain with central sensitization and 42 without central sensitization, classified on the basis of central sensitization inventory. Pain catastrophizing was measured using the pain catastrophizing scale, kinesiophobia using Tampa scale of kinesiophobia, disability using Shoulder pain and disability index and quality of life using 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire was evaluated in both the groups. Increased pain catastrophizing (p=0.000), kinesiophobia (p=0.000) and disability (p=0.000) was observed in centrally sensitized chronic shoulder pain patients. Also, physical component summary (p=0.000) and mental component summary (p=0.000) of SF-36 quality of life were reduced in chronic shoulder pain with central sensitization as compared to without central sensitization. Hence, these components should be included during assessment which will provide a holistic and multimodal approach towards the understanding, planning and management of chronic shoulder pain patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i141-i149
Author(s):  
Geohana Hamoy-Jimenez ◽  
Raymond Kim ◽  
Suganth Suppiah ◽  
Gelareh Zadeh ◽  
Vera Bril ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There is scarce data on the quality of life of people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and type 2 (NF2) in Canada. Methods A cross-sectional study of adults with NF1 and NF2 attending a tertiary center. Patients completed generic measures (SF-36, EQ-5D-5L, and PROMIS pain interference) and disease-specific questionnaires (PedsQL NF1 module and the NFTI-QOL for NF2). We compared generic scores between NF1 and NF2 individuals and used regression models to assess factors associated with quality of life. Results Hundred and eighty-four participants were enrolled. Mean age was 33 years in NF1 and 40 years in NF2. NF1 and NF2 individuals had lower employment rates and lower scores in all domains of the SF-36 compared to the general Canadian population (P &lt; .005). Using the EQ-5D-5L, there was a high proportion of pain (64% in NF1 and 74% in NF2) and anxiety/depression (60% in NF1 and 68% in NF2). Pain interference correlated with poor quality of life in NF1 and NF2; perceived physical appearance was the main predictor of mental well-being in NF1. Conclusions Individuals with NF1 and NF2 have low quality of life, and this correlates with pain, anxiety, and depression, which are prevalent in NF1 and NF2. Perceived physical appearance predicts quality of life in NF1. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for patients with NF1 and NF2, including mental health and pain management.


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 986-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat G Camp ◽  
Jessica Appleton ◽  
W Darlene Reid

Abstract Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative and qualitative research methods to evaluate quality-of-life (QOL) changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after pulmonary rehabilitation. Subjects. Twenty-nine individuals with COPD (18 women and 11 men), with a mean age of 69 years (SD=8.6, range=53–92), participated. Methods. Subjects were assessed before and after a 5-week control phase and after a 5-week rehabilitation phase using the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ), the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and spirometry. Our qualitative research was based on a subsample of 7 subjects who were interviewed after pulmonary rehabilitation. Results. Pulmonary rehabilitation improved QOL, as demonstrated by increases of 22% and 14% in the physical function categories of the CRQ and the SF-36, respectively, and by an increase of 10% in the CRQ's emotional function category. The qualitative data indicated how pulmonary rehabilitation influenced QOL. Conclusion and Discussion. The use of both quantitative and qualitative methods illustrated the nature of improvement in QOL after pulmonary rehabilitation. Improved physical function, less dyspnea, and a heightened sense of control over the subjects' COPD resulted in increased confidence and improved emotional well-being.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 1995-2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Nishimori ◽  
Yoshitsugu Yamada ◽  
Keiko Hoshi ◽  
Yuichi Akiyama ◽  
Yasutaka Hoshi ◽  
...  

Abstract To promote bone marrow donation, both the safety and well-being of healthy unrelated volunteer donors must be protected. This prospective cohort study evaluated donors' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and identified factors associated with it. Using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) before bone marrow harvesting (BMH), and again 1 week and 3 months after the donors' discharge, we evaluated HRQOL of 565 donors (329 men, 236 women) registered with the Japan Marrow Donor Program (JMDP). We also examined the data routinely collected by the JMDP, such as BMH-related problems and other demographic and medical variables, to determine whether such data could be used to predict donors' HRQOL after discharge. Mean scores of all pre-BMH SF-36 subscales showed better functioning than the national norm. One week after discharge, mean scores on physical functioning (PF) and role-physical (RP) subscales, indicative of physical states, and bodily pain (BP) were approximately 1 SD lower than the national norm; however, mental health (MH) and general health perception (GH) remained above normal; the most frequent BMH-related problems were pain at the donation site and lower back pain, which were associated with lower PF, RP, and BP scores. Female gender and duration of procedure predicted lower PF, RP, and BP. Three months after discharge, mean scores of all SF-36 subscales had returned to baseline levels. These data show that the adverse effects of BMH on donors' HRQOL are transient and can be minimized by better management of pain.


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