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Background: Metastatic melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer, often striking in the prime of life. This study provides new information directly from advanced melanoma (stage III and IV) patients on how their disease impacts their health-related quality of life (HRQL).Methods: Twenty-nine in-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with adult patients with advanced melanoma in Canada. A semi-structured interview guide was used. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and key concepts were identified using a grounded theory analytic approach.Results: Many patients' journeys began with the startling diagnosis of an invasive disease and a vastly shortened life expectancy. By the time they reached an advanced stage of melanoma, these patients' overall functioning and quality of life had been greatly diminished by this quickly progressing cancer. The impact was described in terms of physical pain and disability, emotional distress, diminished interactions with friends and family, and burden on caregivers.Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of signs, symptoms, and functional impacts of advanced melanoma. Signs and symptoms reported (physical, mental, and social) confirm and expand on those reported in the existing clinical literature. Primary care physicians should be better trained to identify melanomas early. Oncology care teams can improve on their current approaches for helping patients navigate treatment options, with information about ancillary services to mitigate disease impacts on HRQL, such as mental health and social supports, as well as employment or financial support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine headaches have been shown to have substantial personal and societal implications. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessments of migraineurs have been used to monitor and evaluate patient- and population-based outcomes, and to evaluate effectiveness and responsiveness to treatment. In this paper, we test a new, even shorter generic health survey, the SF-8 Health Survey (SF-8), an alternate form that uses one question to measure each of the eight SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) domains, in a sub-sample of migraine sufferers.Methods: Data from 7557 participants surveyed via the Internet and mail were used to document the burden of migraine on HRQOL and to compare the relative burden of migraine with other chronic conditions using the SF-8.Results: Migraineurs' HRQOL is similar to those with congestive heart failure, hypertension and diabetes, and is better than those with depression. Migraine sufferers experience better physical health and worse mental health (MH) than those with osteoarthritis. Results support prior research indicating that the burden of migraine on functional health and well-being is considerable and comparable to other chronic conditions known to have substantial impact on HRQOL.Conclusions: The SF-8 may provide a more practical and efficient method to describe the burden of migraine in population studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma treatment has broadened from managing clinical markers to incorporate factors that are most meaningful to patients, collectively called health-related quality of life (HQL).Objective: To develop an asthma-specific HQL tool, meeting demands for brevity, usefulness and measurement precision.Methods: The 20-item Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and six additional items were studied using factor analysis, reliability and validity tests among asthma patients 14 and older.Results: The 15-item Integrated Therapeutics Group Asthma Short Form (ITG-ASF) retains the validity of the AQLQ with improved scaling properties and interpretability. The ITG-ASF yields 6 scores: Symptom-Free Index, Functioning with Asthma, Psychosocial Impact of Asthma, Asthma Energy and Asthma-Confidence in Health and a Total. All items correlated 0.40 or higher with their hypothesized scales and passed discriminant validity tests, with scaling success rates from 75 to 100%. Reliability exceeded the minimum of 0.70 for group comparisons. Ceiling and floor effects were acceptable. Scales were valid in relation to changes in asthma severity and lung function. The best predictor of asthma severity (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) staging) was the Symptom-Free Index. A Spanish translation is available, Chinese-American is forthcoming. The reading grade level is 4.8.Conclusions: Development of the ITG-ASF was a data-driven process maximizing measurement precision and breadth while minimizing burden. The ITG-ASF is a brief, comprehensive and empirically valid tool that complements traditional markers of the outcomes of asthma care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 69-item questionnaire measuring generic functioning and well-being and disease-specific health outcomes was developed and tested using the pre-treatment data from patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) participating in two randomized trials of interferon ?-2b (n = 157). The questionnaire included all eight scales from the SF-36 and measures of nine other generic and disease-specific health concepts. Psychometric tests confirmed the assumptions underlying the construction and scoring of all generic and disease-specific scales. Cross-sectional tests of ‘known groups‘ validity showed that CHC patients scored worse on the generic scales than patients with other chronic conditions and worse than a healthy general population. The generic and disease-specific scale scores were lower in the presence of physical findings of CHC, as hypothesized, but only the physical functioning and bodily pain scales were linked to cirrhosis or extreme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratios. This instrument will be useful in studies of health outcome among patients with CHC, a condition whose health burden appears to have been underestimated in studies to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known on the impact of emerging treatments for advanced melanoma (stages III and IV) on patients' functioning and well-being. The objective of this study was to describe the patient-reported treatment-related symptom (TRS) burden in advanced melanoma.Method: Twenty-nine in-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted among adult patients with advanced melanoma in Canada using a semi-structured interview method. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and key concepts were identified using a grounded theory analytic approach.Results: The 29 patients reported 13 unique treatment journeys involving the following drug therapy categories: cytotoxic chemotherapies, CTLA-4 inhibitors, BRAF or MEK inhibitors, and PD-1 inhibitors. Patients typically underwent multiple treatment episodes over time. Common TRSs included nausea, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, and skin rashes. Patients described these as impacting their physical functioning, ability to perform activities of daily living, social functioning, and overall quality of life.Conclusion: Our findings provide a description of the patient's experience with treatment for advanced melanoma. Our sample included patients typically diagnosed in mid-life, facing an urgent sequence of medical procedures and a pharmacological treatment journey that was burdensome. There is a need for less toxic and more efficacious treatments earlier in the patient journey to alleviate the impact of advanced melanoma treatment on patients' health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : To evaluate the feasibility of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and the reliability and validity of CAT-based estimates of headache impact scores in comparison with ‘static’ surveys. Methods : Responses to the 54-item Headache Impact Test (HIT) were re-analyzed for recent headache sufferers (n = 1016) who completed telephone interviews during the National Survey of Headache Impact (NSHI). Item response theory (IRT) calibrations and the computerized dynamic health assessment (DYNHA[sup ®] ) software were used to simulate CAT assessments by selecting the most informative items for each person and estimating impact scores according to pre-set precision standards (CAT-HIT). Results were compared with IRT estimates based on all items (total-HIT), computerized 6-item dynamic estimates (CAT-HIT-6), and a developmental version of a ‘static’ 6-item form (HIT-6-D). Analyses focused on: respondent burden (survey length and administration time), score distributions (‘ceiling’ and ‘floor’ effects), reliability and standard errors, and clinical validity (diagnosis, level of severity). A random sample (n = 245) was re-assessed to test responsiveness. A second study (n = 1103) compared actual CAT surveys and an improved ‘static’ HIT-6 among current headache sufferers sampled on the Internet. Respondents completed measures from the first study and the generic SF-8™ Health Survey; some (n = 540) were re-tested on the Internet after 2 weeks. Results : In the first study, simulated CAT-HIT and total-HIT scores were highly correlated (r = 0.92) without ‘ceiling’ or ‘floor’ effects and with a substantial reduction (90.8%) in respondent burden. Six of the 54 items accounted for the great majority of item administrations (3603/5028, 77.6%). CAT-HIT reliability estimates were very high (0.975–0.992) in the range where 95% of respondents scored, and relative validity (RV) coefficients were high for diagnosis (RV = 0.87) and severity (RV = 0.89); patient-level classifications were accurate 91.3% for a diagnosis of migraine. For all three criteria of change, CAT-HIT scores were more responsive than all other measures. In the second study, estimates of respondent burden, item usage, reliability and clinical validity were replicated. The test–retest reliability of CAT-HIT was 0.79 and alternate forms coefficients ranged from 0.85 to 0.91. All correlations with the generic SF-8 were negative. Conclusions : CAT-based administrations of headache impact items achieved very large reductions in respondent burden without compromising validity for purposes of patient screening or monitoring changes in headache impact over time. IRT models and CAT-based dynamic health assessments warrant testing among patients with other conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis.Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive, and typically fatal disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes such as survival and response to treatment. A better understanding of how patterns of HRQoL may be prospectively associated with costly healthcare resource utilization, such as emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations, is warranted.A secondary data analysis of a non-interventional, longitudinal online study of patients with AL amyloidosis (n = 224) was conducted. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine whether initial HRQoL scores (as measured by the SF-36v2® Health Survey [SF-36v2], where higher scores reflect better HRQoL) and changes in HRQoL were associated with the number of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period. Incidence rate ratios were interpreted by 5-point decrements in initial HRQoL scores and minimally important changes in HRQoL change scores.There were significant inverse associations between initial SF-36v2 scores and subsequent rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations across all domains and summary components (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, changes in physical, but not mental, functioning were associated with rates of ED visits and inpatient hospitalizations during a 12-month period of observation.Scores from patient-reported HRQoL surveys may be helpful in identifying patients at risk of future ED visits and hospital admissions, and may serve as a proxy for disease severity. Such information can provide stakeholders with insight into the humanistic and societal cost associated with AL amyloidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]