Impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance characteristics on quality of life of Venezuelan patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background We have here assessed the impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance characteristics on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Venezuelan patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have used a disease-specific questionnaire, the Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), validated in our patient population, to measure HRQoL. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with SLE from outpatient clinics. Patients completed a form with demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance data, and the LupusQoL questionnaire. HRQoL was classified as better or worse according to previously established cut-off points for this patient population. Spearman’s r test was used to determine the correlations between age, years of education, disease duration, SLEDAI, and SLICC-DI with the eight domains of the LupusQoL. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the HRQoL between the two groups of patients according to treatment compliance. Binomial logistic regression using the backward stepwise selection method was performed to identify the risk factors associated with each of the eight domains of the LupusQoL among patients with inactive (SLEDAI < 4) and active (SLEDAI ≥ 4) SLE. Results HRQoL of our patients was classified as better in all domains of the LupusQoL. Age correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “burden to others”, and disease activity correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “intimate relationships” and “burden to others” (p < 0.05). Patients who fully complied with indicated treatment had higher scores in “physical health” domain compared to patients who did not comply with at least one of the prescribed medications (p < 0.05). In patients with active SLE, a risk factor associated with worse “planning” and “intimate relationships” was advanced age, while having had SLE flare-ups in the previous six months was a risk factor associated with worse “physical health” (p < 0.05). Conclusion Age and disease activity were negatively correlated with almost all domains of the LupusQoL, and treatment compliance was associated with higher score in the “physical health” domain. Disease control and treatment compliance should be the main goals for a better HRQoL in our patients with SLE.

Effect of Resilience on Health-Related Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

The unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a huge global health and economic crisis. The aim of the study was to examine the extent to which the resilience of a person is associated with the quality of life (QoL) of adults amongst Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of adults in Saudi Arabia. A total of 385 adults voluntarily participated in and completed the survey. The quality of life was measured using the “World Health Organization QoL”. The “Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale” instrument was also used to assess resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst the 385 participants, 179 (46%) showed a good QoL, and 205 (54%) reported a relatively poor QoL. The resilience was found to be significantly associated with QoL. The study further revealed that gender-based differences were dominant in the QoL; the men respondents reported a significantly higher QoL in all the domains in comparison to the women respondents. The gender, income, and psychological health and interaction effect of resilience and age explained 40% of the variance in the total score of QoL. In reference to the predictors of the physical health domain of QoL, resilience, gender, and psychological health were significantly associated with the physical health domain of the QoL (R2 = 0.26, p = 0.001). It was also noted that gender was not associated with the social relationships and environmental domains of QoL (p > 0.05). Findings showed a statistically significant association between the score of QoL and resilience, age, gender, income, and psychological health. These findings highlight the significant contribution of gender-based differences, psychological health, and resilience on the domains of QoL.

Impact of Demographic, Clinical, and Treatment Compliance Characteristics on Quality of Life of Venezuelan Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

BackgroundWe have here assessed the impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance characteristics on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Venezuelan patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have used a disease-specific questionnaire, the Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), validated in our patient population, to measure HRQoL.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with SLE from outpatient clinic. Patients completed a form with demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance data, and the LupusQoL questionnaire. HRQoL was classified as better or worse according to the cutoff points previously established for this patient population. Spearman’s r test was used to determine the correlations between age, years of education, disease duration, SLEDAI, and SLICC-DI with the eight domains of the LupusQoL. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare HRQoL between the two groups of patients according to treatment compliance. Binomial logistic regression using the backward successive step selection method was performed to identified the risk factors associated with each of the eight domains of the LupusQoL between patients with inactive SLE (SLEDAI < 4) and active (SLEDAI ≥ 4).ResultsHRQoL of our patients was classified as better in all domains of the LupusQoL. Age correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “burden to others”, and disease activity correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “intimate relationships” and “burden to others” (p < 0.05). Patients who fully complied with indicated treatment had higher scores in “physical health” domain compared to patients who did not comply with at least one of the prescribed medications (p < 0.05). In patients with active SLE, a risk factor associated with worse “planning” and “intimate relationships” was older age, while having had SLE flare-ups in the previous six months was a risk factor associated with worse “physical health” (p < 0.05).ConclusionAge and disease activity were negatively correlated with almost all domains of the LupusQoL, and treatment compliance was associated with higher score in the “physical health” domain. Disease control and treatment compliance should be the main goals for a better HRQoL in our patients with SLE.

ASSESSMENT OF WHOQOL BREF DOMAINS AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVES PRESCRIPTION PATTERN IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background: ESRD is considered as an important cause of mortality worldwide. Patients with CKD on Hemodialysis treatment is very complex requires additional importance in prescribing antihypertensives and also patients on Hemodialysis have effects on functional state and quality of life (QOL). Objectives: The study aimed to assess prescribing pattern of antihypertensives and to demonstrate QOL in different domains of patients with ESRD underdoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Study comprised of 85 patients with ESRD under hemodialysis conducted in multi-speciality hospital between September 2019 to February 2020.The data was collected from the records and by interviewing patients. Results: The mean age of the study population was 54.76±14.32, 72% were males, hypertension is the common cause of ESRD. Calcium channel blockers are the most commonly prescribed drugs followed by alpha blockers, diuretics, beta blockers, vasodilators etc. Comparing the four domains of ESRD patients, environmental domain was the highest with a mean score of 64.56±19.86while the physical health domain was the lowest with a mean score of55.6±12.60. Conclusion: Calcium channel blockers and alpha blockers are most commonly prescribed antihypertensives. The four domains were signicantly and positively interrelated with moderate to strong relationships

Health-related quality of life and associated factors among patients with stroke at tertiary level hospitals in Ethiopia

Introduction Evidence on a patient-centered assessment of outcome among patients with stroke is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and associated factors in Ethiopia’s tertiary level hospitals. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at three tertiary level hospitals (Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital, University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, and Dessie referral hospital) from April 1 to May 31, 2019. A total of 180 patients with stroke were included, and a consecutive sampling method was employed to recruit the participants. RAND 36-Item Health Survey was used to measure the HRQOL. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution and log-link function was used to investigate potential predictors, and variables with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Out of the participants, 50.56% were female. The average age and average duration of illness were 59.04 (12.71) and 1.5 (1.46) years, correspondingly. The physical health domain score was higher than the mental health domain score. Education (P = 0.041), social support (P = 0.050), disability (P <0.001), co-morbidity (P = 0.011), depression (P = 0.015) and income (<1000 ETB P = 0.002; 1000–4000 ETB P = 0.009) were associated with physical health domain. Whereas, ischemic stroke (P = 0.014), education (P = 0.020), disability (P <0.001), and depression (P <0.001) were associated with the mental health domain. Conclusion The HRQOL of the patients was low. Social support and lower disability status were associated with higher HRQOL, whereas disability and depression were associated with higher HRQOL. Therefore, attention should be given to strengthening social support; health professionals should focus on reducing disability/physical dependency and depression, as these are vital factors for improving HRQOL.

P1530QUALITY OF LIFE AND MORTALITY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS

Background and Aims The mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is higher than the general population. And it is well known that quality of life (QOL) falls immediately after receiving HD. However, studies on the relationship between reduced QOL and mortality in HD patients were very rare. This study aims to observe the correlation between impaired QOL and mortality in HD patients and to identify risk factors that affect mortality. Method The study included 160 patients with ESRD undergoing HD during over 3 months. The QOL was evaluated using WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The WHOQOL-BREF instrument comprises 26 items, which measure the following four domains: physical health (domain 1), psychological health (domain 2), social relationships (domain 3), and environment (domain 4). Univariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between comorbidities, sex, age, laboratory findings, and QOL and mortality in HD patients. Multivariate analysis was performed by cox proportional hazard regression. Expected survival at 5 and 10 years was determined by two-sample t-tests. Results The mean age was 58.1 years old. 95 patients (59.7%) received HD due to diabetes mellitus. 42 patients (26.4%) had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. In univariate analysis, age, coronary heart disease, malignancy, comorbidities, and blood calcium level were positively correlated with mortality. In particular, the domain 1 and 2 of WHOQOL-BREF were negatively associated with mortality. The mean scores of domain 1 and 2 was 18.2±5.2 and 15.9±4.5 for survivors and 15.5±5.7 and 13.7±4.9 for deaths. Multivariate analysis identified the age, comorbidity, serum calcium, and domain 1 of WHOQOL-BREF were independent risk factors for mortality (Table 1). Additionally, predicting 5- and 10- year survival, mortality was correlation with older age, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, lower serum calcium, and lower domain 1 of WHOQOL-BREF (Table 2). Conclusion The impaired QOL of patients with ESRD undergoing HD was closely related to mortality. In particular, low QOL in physical health domain significantly increased mortality. Therefore, in order to improve the survival of HD patients, we should be considered about QOL as well as medical problems

Quality of life and its determinants in students of medical and non-medical education

Background: This study was conducted to find and compare the quality of life of medical and non-medical students using a WHO questionnaire.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Medical and Dental College, University of the Punjab and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore. The shortened version of WHO Quality of Life questionnaire was used. Consecutive non-probability sampling was utilized to collect data which was analysed using SPSS 21.Results: Of the 450 questionnaires distributed, 400 qualified for the analysis. Out of 200 medical students’ questionnaires, 118 were filled by male and 82 by female medical students. The mean age of medical students participating in this study was 20.425±1.498 years. Of the 200 qualified non-medical questionnaires, 111 were filled by male and 89 by female non-medical students. The mean age of non-medical students was 20.995±1.645 years. Medical students’ environmental domain showed the highest mean score 65.52±14.82 followed by social relationships 62.39±13.98, psychological domain 59.84±13.64 and physical health domain 54.89±12.03. Non-medical students’ environmental domain had the highest mean score 64.18±15.67 followed by psychological domain 62.45±13.62, social relationships domain 59.82±14.42 and physical health domain 57.04±12.98. The scores of four domains were found to be significantly different in both disciplines (medical education and non-medical education).Conclusions: The results of present study emphasize on the need to look into all the parameters of physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment of medical and non-medical institutes to improve the quality of life of students.

Adjudicating Traditional Wellness

There is no consensus definition for “traditional wellness” but in worksite health promotion, it usually means the wellness program is a health assessment and/or health screening offering followed by some educational programs, usually in the physical health domain. Using the term traditional wellness may belie an unawareness about or lack of appreciation for the quality improvement principles that are as applicable to the health of a profession as they are to the growth of an organization. This editorial examines how the use of the term traditional wellness is a reflection on our professional zeitgeist. Five ideas that attempt to explain misunderstandings about differing approaches to worksite health promotion are offered along with 5 ways we may be able to make peace with traditional wellness.