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Examine quality of life (QoL) and psychological health after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in older people (65+ years) at 3- and 6-month follow-up and explore which injury factors predicted QoL. mTBI patients were compared to trauma comparison (TC) and community comparison (CC) groups. QoL and psychological health were measured at both timepoints. After accounting for 3-month psychological health, injury severity, neuroimaging, and 3-month neuropsychological performance were assessed as predictors of 6-month QoL. Overall 3-month QoL was lower for mTBI (Cohen's d = 0.938) and TC (Cohen's d = 0.485) groups compared to CCs, but by 6 months only mTBI patients continued to report poorer overall QoL (Cohen's d = 0.577) and physical QoL (Cohen's d = 0.656). Despite group differences, QoL for most (~92%) was within normative limits. 3-month psychological health predicted QoL 6-months postinjury (β = -.377, 95% CI −.614, −.140) but other proposed risk factors (GCS <15, neuroimaging, 3-month neuropsychological performance) did not uniquely predict QoL. Older adults following mTBI reported lower QoL up to 6-months postinjury compared to non-injured peers, indicating that mTBI patients were particularly susceptible to ongoing differences in QoL 6-months postinjury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and vascular morbidity. The association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and RA has not been previously investigated within the scope of a review. Conjoined disease manifestations may impact patient well-being, perpetuating increased mortality and quality of life deficits. To investigate the association between RA and PAD, along with RA and the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI), the impact of disease concomitance on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional capacity (FC) was also investigated. Individual study appraisal was completed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT). A level of evidence analysis was conducted using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Evidence Rating Scale for Prognostic/Risk Studies. AMED®, CINAHL®, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MEDLINE®, AHFS®, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Google scholar. Ten studies produced a CCAT rating of ≥ 30 (75%) and were deemed high quality, while a single study demonstrated a score of 26 (65%) suggesting moderate quality. A grade "II" levels of evidence was awarded to positive association between RA and PAD. A gradation of "I" was awarded to the association between ABPI and RA. The impact of concomitant manifestations on HRQOL and FC did not qualify for a level of evidence analysis. The systematic inflammatory nature of RA likely contributes to the increased incidence of PAD within the population. Further investigations are required to ascertain the impact of conjoined disease manifestations on HRQOL and FC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment METHODS: This study was conducted at department of Orthodontics, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar from 24th March 2022 to 30th June 2022. One hundred and seventy-five patients, undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy for at least three months were included in the study. Patients with oral diseases that directly or indirectly affect OHRQoL, any previous orthodontic treatment, cognitive impairment and craniofacial anomalies were excluded. The OHRQoL was recorded using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Independent samples t-test was used to examine the relationship between age and gender with total OHIP-14 score. Comparison of OHIP-14 score among socioeconomic levels and educational level was done using one way ANOVA. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 23.13±5.25 years, OHIP-14 score was 29.48±7.36 and 56% (n=98) were females. No significant difference was found between gender, age of the participants, socioeconomic status (SES) and the OHIP-14 score (p=0.05). Highest mean OHIP-14 score was found in 'higher educational level' followed by intermediate then secondary school and least in primary education level and it was very highly statistically significant (ANOVA test, p<0.001). Participants had negative effect on pronouncing words (47%), physical pain (88%), and psychological discomfort and social disability (94%). CONCLUSION: Fixed orthodontic appliances significantly impact participants' QoL, with educational level varying, while gender, age, and SES showed no significant effect on OHIP-14 scores. Functional limitations, physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social challenges were prominent domains affected by orthodontic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Outcome measurements currently used in chronic uveitis care fail to cover the full patient perspective. The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual model of the factors that adult patients with chronic uveitis consider to be important when evaluating the impact of their disease and treatment. Methods A qualitative study design was used. Twenty chronic uveitis patients were recruited to participate in two focus groups. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti. Results Coding of the transcripts resulted in a total of 19 codes divided over five themes: 1) disease symptoms and treatment; 2) diagnosis and treatment process; 3) impact on daily functioning; 4) emotional impact; and 5) treatment success factors. Conclusion The conceptual model resulting from this study can contribute to the development of future uveitis specific measures in adults.

OBJECTIVE: To find the relationship between quality of life of mothers of cerebral palsy children and child's motor functioning after at least 3 months of rehabilitation. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from August to November 2019. Total 35 cerebral palsy (CP) children and their mothers were involved. Assessment of mother's health done through Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and children's motor functioning through Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). RESULTS: While comparing the results of SF-36 in GMFM-88, we found that children's mothers with low GMFM score had a general health deterioration compared to children with higher GMFM score. Mothers who are having a child with cerebral palsy, with GMFM between 1-80 had to cut down the amount of time spend on work while mothers whose child's GMFM was between 1-20 were limited in kind of work and other activities as well as they accomplished less than she would like, and they didn't do their work as carefully as usual. Due to low GMFM (1-20) of kids' mothers even suffered from moderate level of body ache. Likewise, in children's mothers with lower GMFM ratings (1-20 & 21-40) have disturbed work intervention due to affected physical and emotional health. Similarly, social interaction has also been affected. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that mother of cerebral palsy patient deal with severe physical and mental fatigue. While paying attention only to children's issues, the health of caregiver mothers also needs special considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between coping strategies, meaning in life, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among young adults with haemophilia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2023 to August 2023 at the Haemophilia Welfare Centre in Lahore, Pakistan. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 80 young adults with haemophilia with an age range of 18 to 40 years. Three scales, along with demographic performa were used for data collection. The data was collected by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version Scale 16, Coping Scale 14, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire 15, along with demographic performa. RESULTS: The reliability of all study scales was satisfactory. Study comprised of 40 males and 40 female participants, ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. Most study participants were educated and diagnosed with type A haemophilia. Thirty-five percent of the participants were suffering from moderate levels of haemophilia. Results of the study revealed a significant positive relationship between HRQoL, coping strategies (r =.235*, P<0.01), and meaning in life (r =.468, P<0.01). Regression analysis revealed meaning in life (β =.76, p<.001) as a positive predictor for HRQoL. Coping strategies were found to mediate between meaning in life and HRQoL among young adults with haemophilia. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the positive correlation between HRQoL, coping strategies, and meaning in life, with coping strategies partially mediating this relationship. Addressing psychosocial factors is crucial for improving the well-being of individuals with haemophilia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Pilates exercise versus muscle energy technique (MET) along with Kinesio taping (KT) in non-specific low back pain (LBP). METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from March 22 to September 14, 2022, at Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Research and Teaching Hospital, Johar Medicare Complex in Johar Town, Lahore, and Mayo Hospital and Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Study involved 42 non-specific LBP patients randomly assigned to group A (MET with KT) and group B (Pilates exercise with KT) over eight weeks after interventions. Pain, disability index, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Sessions were held twice a week, lasting 30-40 minutes each. RESULTS: Among 42 participants, 14 (33.3%) were male, and 28 (66.7%) were female, aged 18-40 years. Group B showed greater pain reduction than group A (p<0.05). In group A, lumbar extension (p=0.10), lumbar rotation (0.18), right side flexion (0.02), and left side flexion (0.16) did not significantly improve. However, group B demonstrated improvements in flexion (0.04), extension (0.00), rotation (0.06), right side flexion (0.04), and left side flexion (0.08). The pain and disability improvement between groups exhibited a significant difference (p<0.05). ROM improvement also differed between groups (p<0.05), with group B showing dominant improvement. CONCLUSION: Pilates exercise, combined with KT, demonstrated superior reduction in pain and improved range of motion compared to muscle energy technique with KT in non-specific low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of spirituality and social support along with its impact on health related quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 15th July to 31st August 2018 on 200 patients selected through purposive sampling. Pre-validated questionnaires were used to collect the data on spirituality, social support and QoL, which were analyzed using SPSS v.20.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied where needed. RESULTS: In 200 patients, 151 (75.5%) were male, majority (n=70; 35%) were from >48 to 58 years of age group, maximum (n=116; 58%) were unmarried, while majority had primary education (n=62; 31%). Laryngeal carcinoma (n=24; 12%), was the commonest clinical presentation followed by breast cancer (n=23; 11.5%). Majority (n=77; 38.5%) presented at Stage III, 140 (70%) reported it to be diagnosed at first evaluation, 161 (80.5%) had no family history, 109 (54.5%) reported to start spiritual treatment after diagnosis, and 117 (58.5%) reported family as their main support during the whole phase. In spirituality distinctiveness, 68 (34%) patients showed very high spiritual level, 72 (36%) reported to recite specific Quranic verses in religious practice, in which 112 (56%) reported to recite, واذا ﻣﺮﺿﺖ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻳﺸــــــــــــﻔﻴﻦ 168 (84%) leaned towards spiritual practices after diagnosis. In correlation, spirituality (2.42±0.596) and social support (2.19±0.568), both had a significant correlation with QoL (2.37±0.494) with values of r=0.289, p=0.000 and r=0.238, p=0.001 respectively. CONCLUSION: Spirituality and social support are the key coping mechanisms that have supportive influences on the patients' overall health-related QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Outcome measurements currently used in chronic uveitis care fail to cover the full patient perspective. The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual model of the factors that adult patients with chronic uveitis consider to be important when evaluating the impact of their disease and treatment.Methods: A qualitative study design was used. Twenty chronic uveitis patients were recruited to participate in two focus groups. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti.Results: Coding of the transcripts resulted in a total of 19 codes divided over five themes: 1) disease symptoms and treatment; 2) diagnosis and treatment process; 3) impact on daily functioning; 4) emotional impact; and 5) treatment success factors.Conclusion: The conceptual model resulting from this study can contribute to the development of future uveitis specific measures in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and demographic patterns among patients with psoriasis and their effects on quality of life (QoL) using Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan from September 2016 to October 2017. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select 168 patients with psoriasis. DLQI used on all patients, was split in to two groups and score >10 was taken as very large effect on patient's life. Data was analyzed through SPSS v.20 software. RESULTS: Out of total 168 patients, 115 (68.5%) were female. Plaque was the commonest (n=106; 63.1%) type of psoriasis followed by guttate (n=24; 14.3%) and palmoplantar (n=24; 14.3%). Majority of psoriasis were young adults (n=60; 35.7%), followed by adults (n=56; 33.3%). Mean DLQI score was 10.98±4.300. Group-1 (DLQI score=0-10) included 86 (51.2%) patients and Group-2 (DLQI score >10) included 82 (48.8%) patients. A significant mean difference was recorded among the two groups of DLQI and age of the patient on Independent sample t-test {t (167) =-15.432, p = 0.000}. In group- 1, 59 (51.3%) were female and 27 (50.9%) were males; while in group-2, 56 (48.7%) were females and 26 (49.1%) were males. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis is almost twice more common in female and plaque psoriasis is the commonest variety. Psoriasis has a very large effect on QoL in almost half of the patients. Impact of psoriasis on QoL of the patient is the same in both genders and is more for the erythrodermic form of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate how the different components of sleep dysfunction described in SLE patients combine together in sleep clusters. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a perspective cohort of 79 SLE patients (mean age 8.2 ± 14.3 years). Sleep was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Clusters were defined using the single components of PSQI in a hierarchical clustering model. We used Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF36) to measure depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life, respectively. Results: Three sleep clusters were identified. The cluster 1 (N = 47) is characterized by the lowest values of PSQI total score. The cluster 2 (N = 21) presents higher values of sleep latency, but sleep duration similar to cluster 1. In cluster 3 (N = 11), we found sleep latency increased as in cluster 2, but the highest values of PSQI total score and reduced sleep duration. Scores of anxiety and sedentary time were higher in clusters 2 and 3 than in cluster 1. Cluster 3 presented the highest scores of depression and reduced mental and physical components of SF36. Conclusions: The combination of different sleep components in SLE patients allowed us to identify three patterns of dysfunction: a first cluster with better sleep latency and duration, a second with increased sleep latency but conserved duration, and a third with impairment of both latency and duration. The stratification of sleep disorders in clusters might be useful for the personalization of therapy in relation to sleep cluster membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Background: How a woman gives birth can affect her health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). This study explored HRQoL at 3 months postpartum in women with a history of one previous cesarean in three European countries. Methods: A prospective longitudinal survey, embedded within a cluster randomized trial in three countries, exploring women's postnatal HRQoL up to 3 months postpartum. The Short‐Form Six‐Dimensions (SF‐6D) was used to measure HRQoL, and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship with mode of birth. Results: Complete data were available from 880 women. Women with a spontaneous vaginal birth had the highest HRQoL scores, whereas women with an emergency repeat cesarean (P = .01) had the lowest. Postnatal readmission of the mother (P = .03), having public health insurance (P = .04), and a low antenatal HRQoL score (P < .01) contributes to poorer HRQoL scores. More specifically, women with a spontaneous vaginal birth had significantly higher HRQoL scores on the vitality dimension compared with women with an emergency repeat cesarean (P = .04). Conclusions: In women with low‐risk factors, repeat cesareans result in a poorer HRQoL compared with vaginal birth. When there are no contraindications for vaginal birth, women with a history of one previous cesarean should be encouraged to give birth vaginally rather than have an elective repeat cesarean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between functioning and disability and quality of life (QoL) in older individuals with joint contractures in the geriatric care setting. More specifically, this study aimed to identify determinants of QoL out of a defined set of contracture-related categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Methods: Participants for this multicenter cross-sectional survey were recruited from acute geriatric rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, and community nursing facilities in Germany between February and October 2013. QoL was assessed using the validated German version of the EQ-5D index score and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS). Manual and automatic variable selection methods were used to identify the most relevant variables out of 125 contracture-related ICF categories.Results: A total of 241 eligible participants (34.9 % male, mean age 80.1 years) were included. The final models contained 14 ICF categories as predictors of the EQ-5D index score and 15 categories as predictors of the EQ-5D VAS. The statistically significant ICF categories from both models were 'muscle power functions (b730),' 'memory functions (b144),' 'taking care of plants (d6505),' 'recreation and leisure (d920),' 'religion and spirituality (d930),' 'drugs (e1101),' and 'products and technology for personal use in daily living (e115).'Conclusions: We identified the most relevant ICF categories for older individuals with joint contractures and their health-related quality of life. These items describe potential determinants of QoL which may provide the basis for future health interventions aiming to improve QoL for the patients with joint contractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: to identify the demographic factors that can make recipients vulnerable to develop poorer perceptions of health despite a healthy graft functioning and to evaluate recipients' perceived health status (PHS) influences their coping and adjustment with the altered life styles and challenges after transplant. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, PHS was measured by a self-developed questionnaire that reflected the symptoms' severity and frequency measured by the common immunosuppressant side effects. Actual physical health status was measured by the clinical data that comprised of kidney function tests (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid) and general health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol and haemoglobin levels. RESULTS: There was significant correlation among sociodemographic factors and perceptions of health status after a successful renal transplant over time. Age had a significant negative association with PHS, indicating that older recipients tend to have poorer perceptions of health as compared to younger recipients. Single RTRs tend to have more a better PHS than those in a relationship. Time since transplantation showed a significant positive correlation with PHS reflecting that with the passage of time, perceptions of health tend to improve in most RTRs. In Sociodemographic factors, significant differences were found only in age and marital status. Older and single recipients tend to report better PHS. However, PHS did not differ significantly across gender, educational level, financial and work status. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors do affect PHS to some extent and thus need to be considered as a part of transplant candidacy and psychological management accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physical exercise training aims at reducing disease-specific impairments and improving quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD exacerbations in particular negatively impact COPD progression. Physical therapy intervention seems indicated to influence exacerbations and their consequences. However, information on the effect of physical therapy on exacerbation occurrence is scarce. This study aims to investigate the potential of a protocol-directed physical therapy programme as a means to prevent or postpone exacerbations, to shorten the duration or to decrease the severity of exacerbations in patients with COPD who have recently experienced an exacerbation. Besides, this study focuses on the effect of protocol-directed physical therapy on health status and quality of life and on cost-effectiveness and cost-utility in patients with COPD who have recently experienced an exacerbation. Methods/design A prospective cohort of 300 COPD patients in all GOLD stages will be constructed. Patients will receive usual multidisciplinary COPD care including guideline-directed physical therapy. Patients in this cohort who have GOLD stage 2 to 4 (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.7 and FEV1 < 80% of predicted), who receive reimbursement by health insurance companies for physical therapy (post-bronchodilator Tiffeneau-index < 0.6) and who experience a COPD exacerbation will be asked within 56 days to participate in a cohort-nested prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT). In this RCT, the intervention group will receive a strict physical therapy programme for patients with COPD. This protocol-directed physical therapy (pdPT) will be compared to a control group that will receive sham-treatment, meaning no or very low-intensity exercise training (ST). An economic evaluation will be embedded in the RCT. Anthropometric measurements, comorbidities, smoking, functional exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, physical activity level, health related quality of life, patients' perceived benefit, physical therapy compliance, motivation level, level of effective mucus clearance, exacerbation symptoms and health care contacts due to COPD will be recorded. Follow-up measurements are scheduled at 3 and 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after inclusion. Discussion Ways to minimise potential problems regarding the execution of this study will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The safety and efficacy of indwelling intraperitoneal (IP) catheters for the management of refractory malignant ascites is unclear. A systematic literature overview and retrospective chart review of patients with malignant refractory ascites who underwent indwelling IP catheter placement was performed. Standardized literature abstraction and chart review templates were used to ensure that consistent information was collected. Fifteen publications met literature search criteria, representing 221 patients. Tenckhoff® (Quinton Instrument Company, Seattle, WA, USA), Pleurex® (Denver Biomedical Inc., Golden, CO, USA), and peritoneal catheters were used, along with IP ports. A median 5.9% of cases (range: 2.5%–34%) had documented peritonitis. In the literature, untunneled catheters were most commonly associated with infections. Our chart review added 19 cases from two academic institutions to this literature (median age: 60 years [range: 31–85]; females: 17 [89%]; gynecological malignancies: 14 [73%]). Palliative management before catheter placement included diuretics (n =4 [21%]) and multiple paracenteses (n =11 [58%] had two or more taps [range: 2–8]). Median time from diagnosis to catheter placement was 25 months (range: 1–77). Interventions were: French pigtail catheters (n =16 [84%]), Tenckhoff catheter (n =1 [5%]), and Port-A-Caths® (Smith Medical MD, St. Paul, MN, USA) (n =2; 11%). Four (21%) catheters were tunneled. Prophylactic antibiotics were prescribed in six cases (32%). Two cases (11%) had documented infections, seven catheters (37%) became occluded, and two leaked (11%). The median time from catheter until death was 36 days (range: 4–660). Nine patients (47%) were admitted to hospice. In these retrospective studies, indwelling IP catheters appear to be a safe and effective palliative strategy to manage refractory malignant ascites, without overwhelming infection rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Programmed, notebook-style, personal computers (“e/Tablets”) can collect symptom and quality-of-life (QOL) data at the point of care. Patients use an e/Tablet in the clinic waiting area to complete electronic surveys. Information then travels wirelessly to a server, which generates a real-time report for use during the clinical visit. The objective of this study was to determine whether academic oncology patients find e/Tablets logistically acceptable and a satisfactory means of communicating symptoms to providers during repeated clinic visits. Sixty-six metastatic breast cancer patients at Duke Breast Cancer Clinic participated. E/Tablets were customized to electronically administer a satisfaction/acceptability survey, several validated questionnaires, and the Patient Care Monitor (PCM) review of symptoms survey. At each of the four visits within six months, participants completed the patient satisfaction/acceptability survey, which furnished data for the current analysis. Participant demographics were: mean age of 54 years, 77% Caucasian, and 47% with less than a college education. Participants reported that e/Tablets were easy to read (94%), easy to navigate (99%), and had a comfortable weight (90%); they found it easy to respond to questions using the e/Tablet (98%). Seventy-five percent initially indicated satisfaction with PCM for reporting symptoms; this proportion increased over time. By the last visit, 88% of participants indicated that they would recommend the PCM to other patients; 74% felt that the e/Tablet helped them remember symptoms to report to their clinician. E/Tablets offered a feasible and acceptable method for collecting longitudinal patient-reported symptom and QOL data within an academic, tertiary care, breast cancer clinic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an increasingly important outcome measure in medical research. We wanted to evaluate how adjustment for potential confounders affected the relationship between HRQoL and asthma. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate the relationship of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) with HRQoL. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional Norwegian community study in 1996/1997 including 2306 randomly selected subjects aged 26 years–81 years. Data on HRQoL were measured by SF-12. The data were analyzed by robust linear regression analyses with the physical component score (PCS) and the mental component score (MCS) as dependent variables. The effect of adjusting for the potential confounders was analyzed by bootstrap confidence intervals for differences between the adjusted and unadjusted models. Results: The difference in the asthma coefficients between the unadjusted and adjusted models for both PCS and MCS varied from 0.1 to 1.1. The confidence intervals for these differences for PCS were (−0.3, 1.6) and (0.4, 1.8), using the definition ‘asthma last 12 months’ and ‘physician's diagnosis of asthma’, respectively. The confidence intervals for the corresponding differences for MCS were (−0.01, 1.3) and (−0.6, 0.4), respectively. Univariately, PCS was lower among subjects reporting ETS at home compared to people not reporting ETS at home, but this difference did not persist in the multivariate analyses. ETS at home was associated with slightly improved MCS. Conclusion: Adjusting for potential confounders does not change the relationship between asthma and HRQoL overtly. Please cite this paper as: Voll-Aanerud M, Eagan TML, Wentzel-Larsen T, Gulsvik A and Bakke PS. Asthma and health-related quality of life – effect of adjusting for potential confounders. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 106–115. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]