Association between Clinical Characteristics and Quality of Life in Older People with Stroke at Hospital Discharge

Objective: The number of people with stroke increases worldwide. The stroke survivors live with disabilities and those influence their quality of life (QOL). This study was aimed to investigate the association between clinical characteristics and QOL of the older people with stroke at discharge from the hospital. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The participants were 113 stroke survivors aged 60 years and older admitted to the stroke unit. Quality of life was the study’s outcome which measured by using the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). Primary clinical characteristics were measured by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Potential confounding factors were age, sex, education levels, marital status, current occupation, and comorbidity (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and heart disease). Multiple linear regression was used for data analysis. Results: The main effects of clinical outcomes were high BI Score that had a significant difference association with QOL (β = 0.312, 95% CI = 0.042, 0.296, P = 0.009), lower mRS score also had significant difference association with QOL (β= -0.371, 95%CI = -5.394, -1.162, P = 0.003) after all adjusting. Additional risk factor in this study was marital status (currently married) (β= 0.155, 95% CI = 0.226, 8.666, P = 0.039). Conclusion: Low function status and severe stroke disability as the clinical characteristics were associated with QOL in older people with stroke at hospital discharge. An additional factor was marital status (currently married).

The Impact of a Pet, in This Case a Dog, on Physical Activity, Independence, Social Contacts, Health and Quality of Life of Elderly People

In a rural area near Munich, 52 persons aged 65 years and older were interviewed in person about health and social life circumstances. Findings: Dog owners take significantly longer walks than people who do not own dogs, averaging more than 120 minutes daily (p < 0.0001). On average, people who do not own a dog walked 38 minutes, cat owners 17 minutes. 94% of the dog owners were active daily compared to 14% of those who do not own a dog. Dog owners go to the doctor on average 5.3 times per year, people who do not own a dog 7.8 times. There was no difference between the two groups in regard to the use of medication. 80% would not move to a residential home for the elderly because of the dog, and 87% would want to take the dog along. 50% of the dog owners and 41% of those who do not own a dog had on average more than 3 contacts with other people, 6% of the dog owners and 23% of those who do not own a dog had less than one contact per day. 19% of the dog owners and 36% of those who do not own a dog would describe themselves as reserved in dealings with people. 71% stated that the dog had been very useful to help them overcome the loss of a person close to them. The W-5 [Wellbeing Five score] for dog owners was an average value of 75%, for those who did not own a dog 71%. Depression was uniformly distributed in both groups. The BMIs in both groups were similar. There was no correlation to the length of the daily walk.

The Quality of Life for People with Parkinson’s Disease in Relation to Their Oral Health

The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the oral health status and the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease. The Decayed, Missing, Filled (DMFT) index and the quality of life questionnaire for people with Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39) were used as evaluation instruments. Sixty-two people with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease between stages 1 and 3, age between 46 and 86 years, of both sexes, with an average time of disease evolution of 7 years, participated in the study. Data were evaluated using the Pearson’s correlation test, and one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). The mean DMFT obtained was 23;there was no correlation between the DMFT values and the total score of the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 neither in its domains, nor between the DMFT and the stages of Parkinson’s disease (p = 0.61). We found that the oral health of parkinsonians is deficient due to the high number of missing teeth, but their perception of quality of life is favorable despite their motor limitations related to mobility, and activities of daily living.

Factors influencing quality of life in Chinese patients with dementia: a systematic review

Background:Dementia is a group of nervous system diseases characterized by progressive cognitive decline,leading to a loss of self-care ability and a decline in well-being.This places a significant burden on the global healthcare system,with Chinese patients accounting for approximately one-quarter of the world’s dementia cases.Therefore,it is crucial to identify factors that impact the quality of life(QOL)among elderly Chinese individuals with dementia.Method:To achieve this,we conducted a comprehensive search of several databases,including PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,the Cochrane Library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,China VIP Database and China Biomedical Literature Database.We reviewed cross-sectional studies from the inception of these databases until March 27,2022.QOL outcomes were assessed using standardized scales in the studies included in this review.Results:The search yielded a total of 1,235 relevant articles,from which we finally included 21 cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal study after rigorous quality assessment.Among these,10 studies were classified as high quality,while 12 were classified as fair quality.Through our analysis,we identified 28 patient-rated QOL factors and 14 caregiver-rated QOL factors.These factors were categorized into three groups:patient,disease-related and caregiver.Factors commonly found to influence patient-rated QOL included age,education,marital status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiver burden.Similarly,factors commonly influencing caregiver-rated QOL included economic status,depression,self-care ability,dementia severity,cognitive function,behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiving time.Conclusion:This review clarifies the factors that influence the QOL of Chinese individuals with dementia.When implementing interventions,it is crucial to consider the differences between patient-rated QOL and caregiver-proxy-rated QOL,as well as their respective influencing factors.

Quality of life and hope in elderly people with cancer

The aim of this study was to describe the charac-teristics in Quality of Life (QoL) and hope in eld-erly people newly diagnosed with cancer, and to compare the results for those who survived six months after diagnosis with those who did not. The design of the study was a quantitative study in-cluding drop-out analysis. Data were collected pro-spectively from a group of 101 older people with cancer. The core questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 was used to measure QoL and Nowotny’s Hope Scale (NHS) was employed to measure hope. Par-ticipants who died within six months of diagnosis had significantly lower QoL and had more com-plaints about symptoms compared to those who survived. However, hope did not differ significantly between those who died and those who survived. Despite lower QoL score among those who died they were able to deal with their difficult situation and maintain hope in late life. This capacity seems to be an important component of hope in the elderly;thus it is essential to strengthen hope.

Life′s Simple 7干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者化疗相关心血管系统损害的研究

目的探讨Life′s Simple 7(LS7)干预减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌患者根治术后化疗相关心血管系统损害的作用。方法将120例Her⁃2阳性并接受标准化乳腺癌化疗的患者随机等量分为对照组及LS7组,对照组为标准化疗方案,LS7组为对照组基础上给予LS7干预12个月,后续通过比较两组治疗前后心血管系统损伤程度、焦虑、抑郁及生活质量等指标评价其对心血管系统损害的改善作用。结果相较于对照组,LS7组LS7总评分及7项心血管健康指标均优于对照组(P<0.05),LS7组LVEF较高(P<0.05)、NT⁃proBNP较低(P<0.05),焦虑和抑郁评分较低(P<0.05)、生活质量评分较高(P<0.05)。结论LS7干预可显著减轻Her⁃2阳性乳腺癌化疗相关心血管系统损害并改善乳腺癌患者的心理状况和生活质量,值得在临床推广。

Chinese People’s Pursuit for Better Life Unstoppable

COME rain or shine, the eforts of Chinese people in pursuing a better life are unstoppable, according to a Chinese language commentary which was published under the byline “Xuanyan” in the People＇s Daily on August 8. The 4,700-character article, titled “Create a Better Life, Come Rain or Shine,” summarized China’s development and reform since 1949, as well as its attitudes towards the challenges facing the country.

On the Whole-Process People’s Democracy and the Construction of Citizens’ Cultural Quality

The Whole-Process People’s Democracy has become an important proposition of the socialist modernization democratic theory with Chinese characteristics,and has important value for the development of the new form of human civilization.The Whole-Process People’s Democracy is not only a“democracy”system,its focus is to achieve“people’s democracy”,its unique feature is to surpass“non process”democracy with the“Whole-Process”,and create a new governance path of a new form of human civilization.Of course,the emphasis of people’s democracy on the consciousness of people’s subjective participation in the whole process also puts forward corresponding requirements for the cultural quality construction of Chinese social citizens in the new era,so it is also of great significance to pay attention to the cultivation of citizens’public spirit.

Impressions of a Foreigner on Life In the People's Republic of China

The undersigned is Egyptian citizen 64 years old, Professional Engineer, C.A., U.S.A,lfxiving in Jinzhou District, Dalian city since more than 10 months, visited China 5 times between March 1998 and May 2000 for establishment of international business relations between the Chinese firms and business partners in the Middle East & Africa.

Television in Chinese People's Life

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Artificial tiger bone powder for improving the quality of life in elderly patients with fracture

Objective: To investigate the application of artificial tiger bone powder on fracture healing time, wrist functional recovery and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with distal radius fracture. Methods: The study was a randomised controlled trials performed from January 2015 to December 2016 in a hospital. Elderly patients with distal radius fracture were divided into the treatment and the control groups by the random sealed envelope method. All patients were given splint or plaster fixation after manipulative reduction, and functional exercise, the treatment group was also given artificial tiger bone powder orally (trade name: Jintiange capsule), the control group was given an oral placebo in their appearance and usage identical with the treatment group. Prior to treatment and 6, 12 months after treatment, the wrist function was assessed by range of motion, including flexion-extension, radial-ulnar and pronation-supination, and the QOL was assessed by the Mos 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Each patient's fracture healing time was recorded. Results: Before treatment, there were no significant differences in wrist function and QOL between the two groups. At 6 and 12 months after treatment, the wrist function and QOL in the treatment group were better than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The fracture healing time in the treatment group was shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The early usage of artificial tiger bone powder for elderly patients with distal radius fracture can promote the healing of fracture, recovery of wrist joint function, and ultimately improve the QOL for elderly patients.

Higher vitamin D serum concentration increases health related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

AIM: To investigate the effect of vitamin D (VD) concentrations and VD supplementation on health related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Impact of body mass index and gender on quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM： To investigate the symptom presentation and quality of life in obese Chinese patients with gastro- esophageal reflux disease （GERD）. MKTHODS： Data from patients diagnosed with GERD according to the Montreal definition, were collected between January 2009 to March 2010. The enrolled patients were assigned to the normal [body mass in- dex （BMI） 〈 25 kg/m2], overweight （25-30 kg/m2）, and obese （BMI 〉 30 kg/m2） groups. General demographic data, endoscopic findings, and quality of life of the three groups of patients were analyzed and compared.and 15 patients were classified in the normal, over- weight, and obese, respectively. There was significantly more erosive esophagitis （73.3% vs 64.3% vs 39.2%, P = 0.002）, hiatal hernia （60% vs 33.9% vs 16.7%, P = 0.001）, and males （73.3% vs 73.2% vs 32.4%, P = 0.001） in the obese cases. The severity and frequency of heartburn, not acid regurgitation, was positively cor- related with BMI, with a significant association in men, but not in women. Obese patients were prone to have low quality of life scores, with obese women having the lowest scores for mental health. CONCLUSION： In patients with GERD, obese men had the most severe endoscopic and clinical presenta- tion. Obese women had the poorest mental health.

Disease impact on the quality of life of children with inflammatory bowel disease

To assess the impact of disease characteristics on the quality of life (QOL) in children with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study conducted at the First Department of Pediatrics of the University of Athens at the “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital. Children diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), who were followed as outpatients or during a hospitalization, participated, after informed consent was obtained from their legal representative. QOL was assessed by the IMPACT-III questionnaire. Demographic data and disease characteristics were also collected. Statistical analyses included parametric (Student’s t-test and Pearson’s r) and non-parametric (Mann-Whitney test, Fisher’s test and Spearman’s rho) procedures.RESULTSNinety-nine patients (UC: 37, 73.0% females, CD: 62, 51.6% females), aged 12.8 ± 2.6 years were included. Overall, as well as, sub-domain scores did not differ between UC and CD (overall score: 73.9 ± 13.3 vs 77.5 ± 11.2, respectively, P = 0.16). In the entire sample, total score was related to physician’s global assessment (PGA, patients classified as “mild/moderate” active disease had, on average, 14.8 ± 2.7 points lower total scores compared to those “in remission”, P < 0.001) and age at IMPACT completion (Pearson’s r = 0.29, P = 0.05). Disease activity assessed by the indices Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis activity index, Pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index or PGA was significantly associated with all subdomains scores. Presence of extraintestinal manifestations had a negative impact on emotional and social functioning domains.CONCLUSIONDisease activity is the main correlate of QOL in children with IBD, underlining the importance of achieving and sustaining clinical remission

Quality of life, work productivity impairment and healthcare resources in inflammatory bowel diseases in Brazil

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)have been associated with a low quality of life(QoL)and a negative impact on work productivity compared to the general population.Information about disease control,patient-reported outcomes(PROs),treatment patterns and use of healthcare resources is relevant to optimizing IBD management.AIM To describe QoL and work productivity and activity impairment(WPAI),treatment patterns and use of healthcare resources among IBD patients in Brazil.METHODS A multicenter cross-sectional study included adult outpatients who were previously diagnosed with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease(CD)or ulcerative colitis(UC).At enrolment,active CD and UC were defined as having a Harvey Bradshaw Index≥8 or a CD Activity Index≥220 or calprotectin>200μg/g or previous colonoscopy results suggestive of inadequate control(per investigator criteria)and a 9-point partial Mayo score≥5,respectively.The PRO assessment included the QoL questionnaires SF-36 and EQ-5D-5L,the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire(IBDQ),and the WPAI questionnaire.Information about healthcare resources and treatment during the previous 3 years was collected from medical records.Chi-square,Fisher’s exact and Student’s t-/Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare PROs,treatment patterns and the use of healthcare resources by disease activity(α=0.05).RESULTS Of the 407 patients in this study(CD/UC:64.9%/35.1%,mean age 42.9/45.9 years,54.2%/56.6%female,38.3%/37.1%employed),44.7%/25.2%presented moderate-to-severe CD/UC activity,respectively,at baseline.Expressed in median values for CD/UC,respectively,the SF-36 physical component was 46.6/44.7 and the mental component was 45.2/44.2,the EQ-visual analog scale score was 80.0/70.0,and the IBDQ overall score was 164.0/165.0.Moderate to severe activity,female gender,being unemployed,a lower educational level and lower income were associated with lower QoL(P<0.05).Median work productivity impairment was 20%and 5%for CD and UC patients,respectively,and activity impairment was 30%,the latter being higher among patients with moderate to severe disease activity compared to patients with mild or no disease activity(75.0%vs 10.0%,P<0.001).For CD/UC patients,respectively,25.4%/2.8%had at least one surgery,38.3%/19.6%were hospitalized,and 70.7%/77.6%changed IBD treatment at least once during the last 3 years.The most common treatments at baseline were biologics(75.3%)and immunosuppressants(70.9%)for CD patients and 5-ASA compounds(77.5%)for UC patients.CONCLUSION Moderate to severe IBD activity,especially among CD patients,is associated with a substantial impact on QoL,work productivity impairment and an increased number of IBD surgeries and hospitalizations in Brazil.

The Effects of Exercise on People with Parkinson’s Disease—Review

Quality of life encompasses physical, psychological and social aspects of health. Apart from motor symptoms (physical aspects), Parkinson’s disease (PD) is also closely related with various non-motor symptoms (psychological and social aspects) that can undermine quality of life greatly, even in early stages of the disease. Most research studies in this field focus on analysis of motor symptoms in PD sufferers. Although benefits of physical activity for the psychosocial quality of life are well-known, they have been mostly neglected in case of the people suffering from PD. Numerous studies clearly show that training programs can ameliorate the quality of life as far as non-motor functions in PD sufferers are concerned. The only psychological aspects of the disease related to the effects of exercise that have been researched so far are depression and cognitive functions. Depression is the most common denominator of poor quality of life, while dementia often accompanies the Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown positive effects of exercise on the social life of those suffering from the disease, especially in case of group exercise. Studying psychological and social aspects of such chronic conditions as PD is of utmost importance for monitoring the patient’s adjustment to the disease, functioning with it, as well as the overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Thus far, the results have been pointing towards improvement of the quality of life. Exercise is a readily available method of treatment in case of PD, especially if applied in the early stages of the disease. In addition to reviewing the existing studies on the relation between exercise and quality of life of the patients, this paper will also focus on the way the psychological and social aspects of PD are influenced by exercise.

Addressing quality of life in the patient with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome(IC/BPS)is a debilitating,chronic condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain,urinary urgency,and frequency and is well-known to be associated with a decrease in work productivity,emotional changes,sleep,sexual dysfunction,and mobility.Many metrics of quality of life(QoL)in this patient population have been developed;however,a unified,standardized approach to QoL in these patients has not been determined.The effects of IC/BPS and co-morbid conditions on QoL are described using current validated metrics.Next,data regarding successful treatment of IC/BPS in terms of QoL improvement are reviewed.While QoL is the single most important clinical measure of success in the treatment of patients suffering from IC/BPS,addressing QoL in this patient population remains a significant challenge,as its effects on QoL are highly variable and unable to be differentiated from the effects of comorbid conditions on QoL,including depression,poor sleep,and inability to work.Future studies will need to address treatment efficacy on the basis of IC/BPS specific QoL metrics,and multi-modal assessment and therapy to address comorbid disease will also play an important role in the future to ensure comprehensive management of these patients.

Faecal incontinence and health related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients: Findings from a tertiary care center in South Asia

AIM: To analyze the frequency and severity of faecal incontinence (FI) and its effect on the quality of life (QOL) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. METHODS: All patients who attended surgical and medical gastroenterology outpatient clinics in a tertiary care center with an established diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn&rsquo;s disease (CD) over a period of 10 mo were included in this study. Before enrollment into the study, the patients were explained about the study and informed consent was obtained. The patients with unidentified colitis were excluded. The data on demographics, disease characteristics, FI (Vaizey score), and quality of life (IBD-Q) were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: There were 184 patients (women = 101, 54.9%; UC = 153, 83.2%) with a female preponderance for UC (male/female ratio = 1:1.5) and a male preponderance for CD (male/female = 2:1). Forty-eight (26%) patients reported symptoms of FI. Among the patients with FI, 70.8% were women (n = 34) and 29.2% were men (n = 14) with an average age of 52.7 years (range, 20-78 years). Average age of onset of FI was 48.6 (range, 22-74) years. Ten percent (n = 5) reported regular FI. Incontinence to flatus was seen in 33.3% (n = 16), to liquid faeces in 56.2% (n = 27), to solid faeces in 6.2% (n = 3) and to all three in 4.1% (n = 2). Twenty-one percent (n = 10) complained of disruption of their physical and social activity. There was no association between FI and type of IBD. Significant associations were found between FI and age (P = 0.005) and gender (P CONCLUSION: In our study, nearly a quarter of patients reported FI. There was a significant correlation between FI and QOL. Therefore, enquiring about FI in IBD patients can lead to identification of this debilitating condition. This will enable early referral for continence care in this group of patients.

Estimation of quality of life in Cypriot patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIMTo investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients suffering with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).METHODSThe Greek validated version of the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire was used for evaluating the quality of life of IBD patients. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 consecutive patients suffering from IBD and presenting for a clinic appointment at the endoscopy unit of Larnaca General Hospital during the period from October to November 2012. The criteria for participating in this study were constituted by the documented diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn&#x02019;s disease (CD) after endoscopy and histologic examination at least 6 months before the study, adult patients (18 years old or older), the capability of verbal communication and the patient&#x02019;s written consent for attending this study. The majority of the questionnaires were completed by a nurse practitioner who specializes in IBD patient care.RESULTSRegarding the physical dimension in patients with UC, males scored significantly higher than females (4.2 vs 3.4, P = 0.023). Higher scores were also observed in UC patients younger than 35 or older than 50 years (4.0 and 4.2 vs 3.2, respectively, P = 0.021). The psychological dimension revealed similar results in patients with UC, with males, and older ages scoring higher (5.0 vs 3.0, P = 0.01 and 4.7 vs 2.7, P &#x0003c; 0.5, respectively), whereas regarding CD higher scores were observed in married compared to unmarried (3.83 vs 2.33, P = 0.042). No statistical differences in any parameters in the social dimension were observed. Regarding the treatment of, patients with CD, overall higher scores were observed when treated with biological factors compared to standard therapy in all dimensions but with statistical significant difference in the social dimension (5.00 vs 3.25, P = 0.045).CONCLUSIONThe study reveals a negative impact of IBD on HRQoL. Increased risks are age and gender in patients with UC and family status in patients with CD.

Association between Caregiver Quality of Life and the Care Provided to Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease: Systematic Review

We reviewed the literature to examine whether an association exists between the quality of life (QoL) of primary informal Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers and the level and quality of care that these caregivers provide to their loved ones with AD. We obtained studies focusing on the care that these caregivers provide for their family members with AD. Our outcome of interest was level or quality of care and the independent variable was caregiver QoL. We extracted data in tabular form and used a narrative synthesis approach to describe our findings. Only one relevant study was included in the review. Overall, the evidence was equivocal regarding the associations between caregiver QoL and the level/quality of care in AD.