ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) esophagectomy and routine operation on the short-term quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer. MethodsFrom January 2012 through January 2014, 157 esophageal cancer patients were classified into a VATS group (n=42) and a routine operation group (n=115) in our hospital. All patients in the two groups completed the Chinese versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-OES18 at one, six and 12 months after operation separately. ResultsAt the end of 6, 12 months after operation, the evaluation on global health status was higher in the VATS group(68.8±12.3 vs. 62.7±13.7, P<0.05; 76.2±10.4 vs. 68.6±8.8, P<0.05). At the end of 1, 6, 12 months after operation, the scores of symptom pain were less significantly in the VATS group than those in the routine operation group (P<0.05). One month after operation, the score of active ability in the VATS group was higher (P<0.05). At the end of 6, 12 months after operation, the score of emotional function and social role in the VATS group was higher (P<0.05). At the end of 12 months after operation, the score of role function and cognitive function in the VATS group was also higher (P<0.05). ConclusionVATS is of better effect on improving short-term quality of life of esophageal cancer patients compared with routine operation.
Objective To get known about the disease burden and quality of life (QOL) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China by conducting a systematic review. Methods The observational studies about the disease burden and QOL of RA in China were systematically searched in the following databases: CNKI, CBM, VIP, WanFang Data, MEDLINE/Pub Med, EMbase, and Science Citation Index. The retrieval time was from January 1st, 1990 to July 31st, 2010. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literature was screened, the data were extracted, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. The morbidity of RA was pooled by adopting generic inverse variance model, the meta-analyses on 8 dimensions of SF-36 life quality score (LQS) was conducted by suing RevMan5.0 software, the weighted mean difference (WMD) was regarded as the indicator of intervention effect, and the impact of studies’ quality on the results was assessed by sensitivity analysis. Results A total of 20 studies with medium quality in general were included. The morbidity of RA was 14.7/100 000. The disability adjusted of life years (DALYs) per capita were 4.92. If excluding the cost resulted from DALY, the overall economic cost was RMB 1 250.45 yuan per capita per year; While considering DALY, the cost was RMB 15 717.91 yuan per capita per year. The average cost of outpatient medications was RMB 8 018±17 238 yuan per capita per year. The weighted morbidity was 0.42% (95%CI 0.39% to 0.45%), and it was higher in female than male (Plt;0.05). There was no secular trend and difference between southern and northern (Pgt;0.05), but there were statistical significances in the WMD of 8 dimensions of SF-36 LQS. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the weighted pooled results were stable. Conclusion The epidemiological and economic burden of rheumatoid arthritis are heavier in China, which needs to be concerned by both government and society.
Objective To explor the influence of the hospital-community-family mental rehabilitation mode on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. Methods We selected 101 patients diagnosed as schizophrenia according to ICD-10, who were hospitalized in mental health center of the West China Hospital and took part in rehabilitation voluntarily after discharge. Those patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Hospital-community-family mental rehabilitation mode intervention was applied to the patients based on inpatient rehabilitation in the trial group (n=52), while inpatient rehabilitation alone was applied in the control group (n=49). The total score of quality of life, psycho-social dimension, motivation and energy dimension, score of mental disability and social function, and family social care index were recorded. Then, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software. Results After 3 months and 6 months, the trial group had lower scores of the total score of quality of life, psycho-social domain, and motive and energy dimension than those of the control group (Plt;0.05). After 6 months, the trial group had lower scores of mental disability and social function (Plt;0.05) but a higher score of family social care index (Plt;0.05). The scores of WHO-DSA II and SQLS were positively correlated, while the scores of APGAR and SQLS were negatively correlated. Conclusion The integral mode of hospital-community-family mental rehabilitation effectively improves the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia, which also positively improves patients’ rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on pulmonary function,perception of dyspnea and quality of life in stable COPD patients of different severity. Methods300 patients with COPD in stable stage were divided into a moderate COPD group (n=120),a severe COPD group (n=100) and a very severe COPD group (n=80). Each group was randomly subdivided into a control group and a treatment group. The treatment groups received pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 months in addition to usual care,and the control groups received usual care without pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary function(FEV1),6 minute walking distance (6MWD),modified medical research council (mMRC) scale,and acute exacerbation frequency of COPD were compared before and after intervention and among groups. ResultsAfter pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 months,the quality of life score and 6MWD were significantly improved in the treatment groups with moderate,severe,very severe COPD,and the increscent of 6MWD was greatest in the severe COPD patients. The mMRC of the patients with very severe COPD improved significantly after pulmonary rehabilitation(P<0.05). Lung function before and after the intervention in three groups all showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The acute exacerbation frequency of the severe COPD patients was significantly reduced by pulmonary rehabilitation (P<0.05), while there was no significant change in the moderate and very severe groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPulmonary rehabilitation can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life of COPD patients with different severity,reduce acute exacerbation frequency in severe COPD,reduce the dyspnea degree in very severe COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a cost-effective treatment for stable COPD.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise and rehabilitation program in improving shoulder function and quality of life for breast cancer patients after mastectomy. Method We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE (1966 to 2008), EMbase (1989 to 2007), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health literature), CBMdisc (1978 to 2008), and CNKI (1994 to 2008) to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The quality of RCTs was critically appraised and data were extracted by 3 reviewers independently. Meta-analyses were conducted for the eligible RCTs. Result Nineteen RCTs were included. Stepwise upper extremity exercise and body exercise were reported in the rehabilitation program. Nine studies indicated that the rehabilitation program significantly improved the shoulder function of breast cancer patients after mastectomy. Four studies demonstrated its effect on cardiopulmonary function and body endurance. Six RCTs proved the effect of rehabilitation program on health-related quality of life and fatigue alleviation. Conclusion Rehabilitation program consisting of stepwise upper extremity exercise and full-body exercise is effective in improving the shoulder function and enhancing the quality of life of breast cancer patients after mastectomy. It also has a positive effect in reducing fatigue for those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Objective To summarize the advances in the clinical application of the quality of life(QOL) assessment after surgery of rectal cancer.MethodsThe recent literatures on the advances in the studies on the QOL assessment following the treatment of rectal cancer were reviewed. Results After surgery of rectal cancer, the patients might suffer from short and/or long term of various complications affecting the physical, social and psychological aspects of their well-being. The QOL assessment included many aspects of the studies. Global QOL scores as measured by the specific questionnaires improved significantly after surgery. It had provided clinical evidences of therapeutic methods, operative treatment of choices and bowel reconstructed procedures for the patients with rectal cancer.Conclusion The QOL studies after surgery for rectal cancer are of increasing importance. Apart from the improvements of the survival rates and the recurrencefree period, it is essential to provide an acceptable QOL postoperatively. The QOL assessment for the guidance of clinical treatment should be discussed routinely for a patient with potentially curable rectal carcinoma so that the excellent outcome could be achieved.
Objective To investigate the depression status，score of asthma control test (ACT) and quality of life in asthma patients before and after health care education according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines.Methods 59 enrolled outpatients with asthma were asked to self-administer the CES-D (center for epidemiologic studies-depression) scale，ACT scale and the quality of life (QOL) questionnaire respectively.All the patients were educated and treated by health care professionals under the guidance of GINA 2004.After average of 2.5 months ± 15 days，they were asked to self-administer all the scales and questionnaire mentioned above once again on return visit.The data was collected and analyzed statistically based on whether or not the patient had depression according to the CES-D score and the data before and after the education was compared statistically.Results （A）40.7% (24/59) of the patients had depression emotion before guided treatment，and after that the percentage significantly decreased to 13.6% (8/59) (Plt;0.05).（B）Comparing the depressive and non-depressive groups，there was significant difference in 3 of 5 domains in QOL excluding limitation of activity and self concern about health (Plt;0.05) before guided treatment.While on return visit 3 domains in QOL excluding limitation of activity and psychologic status had shown a significant difference (Plt;0.05).There was no significant difference in ACT score before guided treatment，while wise versa after that (Plt;0.05).（C）Before guided treatment the depression status was inversely correlated with 3 in 5 domains of QOL (symptoms of asthma，psychologic status and response to irritant)，as well as QOL as a whole (Plt;0.05)，but not with the other two domains of QOL scale and ACT score.After guided treatment，the depression status had inverse correlation with QOL and 3 in 5 domains of QOL scale (excluding limitation of activity and psychologic status) (Plt;0.05)，as well as ACT score (Plt;0.05).Conclusions The symptoms of asthma and response to irritants are common factors that influence the depressive emotion in asthma population.While psychologic status and self concern about health are both important factors that can not be overlooked.Health care education is important for asthma patients in view of appropriate treatment，symptom control and relief of depression emotion.
Objective To evaluate short-term effects of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy（PMCT） combined with chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC）.Methods Eighty cases with advanced NSCLC were randomly assigned to underwent chemotherapy plus PMCT(PMCT group，n=40) or single chemotherapy(chemotherapy group，n=40).The chemotherapeutics regimen was Taxotere plus Cisplatin.The preliminary results and quality of life score of two groups were compared.Results In PMCT group and chemotherapy group，the 3-month relieve rate was 52.5% and 32.5%，and the half-year survival rate was 87.5% and 62.5%，respectively.The differences between the two groups were both significant(Plt;0.05).The quality of life score in PMCT group was significantly higher than that in chemotherapy group (Plt;0.05).Conclusion PMCT combined with chemotherapy is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.
Objective To determine if supervised hospital-based exercise can maintain the benefits of functional exercise ability and quality of life gained from a pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD.Methods A prospective and randomized study was carried out. Following completion of an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program in hospital, 43 COPD patients were recruited and randomized into either a supervised group ( supervised, every 10 days, hospital-based exercise, 22 cases ) or a control group ( unsupervised home exercise,21 cases) and followed for 12 months. Measurements were taken at baseline and 12 months later. Exercise measurements include six-minute walk test( 6MWT) and pulmonary function test. Quality of life was measured using the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire ( CRQ) . Results After 12 months of different exercise program,6MWT in the supervised group was significantly longer than that in the unsupervised group[ ( 532. 0 ±168. 4) m vs ( 485. 0 ±151. 6) m, P lt; 0. 05] . There was no significant difference in pulmonary function between the two groups. The quality of life of the supervised group was higher than that of the unsupervised group( 114. 6 ±20. 8 vs 105. 6 ±21. 7, P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions After the completion of pulmonary rehabilitation program, a supervised, every 10 days, hospital-based following exercise program can maintain better functional exercise capacity and quality of life compared to home exercise in COPD patients.
Objective To compare BODE index with GOLD staging for the severity evaluation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) . To investigate the relationship between BODE index and quality of life. Methods A total of 100 patients with stable COPD were enrolled. All participants were examined with lung function test and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire ( SGRQ) for evaluation of quality of life. BODE index and it’s four components including body mass index( BMI) , airflow obstruction ( FEV1%pred) , dyspnea( MMRC) , and exercise capacity( 6MWD) were calculated. The participants were divided into four groups of severity using GOLD guidelines and BODE index quartiles. Results The associations between SGRQ total score and SGRQ subscales, and BODE index were significant( P lt;0. 01) .BODE index was a significant predictor of the quality of life, explaining 41. 3% of the total score of the SGRQ ( P lt;0. 01) . However, GOLD classification showed a correlation only with SGRQ activity score ( P lt;0. 05) but not with other SGRQ scores. There were significant differences in SGRQ total score and SGRQsubscales between different severity groups of BODE index( P lt;0. 01) . But there was no difference in SGRQ score between different severity groups of GOLD classification, except SGRQ activity score. Conclusion BODE scoring system is better correlated with the quality of life as assessed by the disease severity inpatients with COPD than the GOLD staging criteria.