As We Were and As We Should Be, Combined Exercise Training in Adults With Schizophrenia: CORTEX-SP Study Part II.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality following a supervised combined exercise (EX) program compared to a Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) and to analyze the relationship between the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQoL domains in people with schizophrenia (SZ). METHODS: The SZ (n = 112, 41.3 ± 10.4 year) was randomly assigned into a TAU control group (n = 53) or EX-group (n = 59, 3 days/week). The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire assessed HRQoL and the sleep quality analysis (accelerometry). RESULTS: After the intervention (20 weeks), physical functioning (∆ = 12.9%), general health (∆ = 15.3%), mental health (∆ = 8.3%), physical component summary (PCS) (∆ = 5.1%), and sleep efficiency (∆ = 1.9%) increased (p < 0.05) in the EX, with no significant changes in the TAU for any domains studied. There were significant differences between groups whose EX showed improvements (p < 0.05) compared to TAU in physical functioning, general health, PCS, and sleep efficiency. A greater CRF was associated with better values in physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and PCS after the exercise program in SZ. CONCLUSIONS: A 20-week supervised combined exercise intervention program for SZ increased sleep efficiency and physical functioning, general and mental health, and PCS scores. This could lead to a critical HRQoL change from how they were to how they should be. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03509597.

CLINICAL SIGNS AND QUALITY OF LIFE ANALYSIS IN THE PATIENTS WITH HYPOTHYREOSIS AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To analyze the clinical condition and evaluate the quality of life of patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP and patients with isolated CP based on the results of testing according to the GSRS and SF-36 questionnaires. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Were examined 62 patients with comorbid course of Ht and CP. The comparison group consisted of 48 people with isolated CP, the control group consisted of 30 healthy people, comparable in age and sex. The average age of all patients was (51.4±26.7) years. Two questionnaires were used in the study: the GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) questionnaire was used to assess the severity of gastroenterological symptoms and QoL, and the general SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess the clinic and health status. RESULTS: Results: Analyzing the data of the GSRS questionnaire, it was found that in patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP, reflux, pain and dyspepsia syndromes took the leading place in the clinic of the disease (p>0.05). They should be considered as the main factor in reducing the quality of life in patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP. According to the GSRS questionnaire, the comorbidity of Ht and CP caused a complication of the clinical condition compared to patients with isolated CP of a gastroenterological patient: according to the scale of gastric reflux - by 48.57%, according to the scale of dyspepsia - by 35.84%, diarrhea - by 26.94%, constipation - by 19.93%, abdominal pain - by 40.81% (p<0.05). As a result of the study, a significantly lower level of quality of life was established in patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It has been proven that the quality of life of patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP was significantly lower compared to that of isolated CP (the total difference between groups on all scales of the GSRS questionnaire was 33.59% (p<0.05)). According to the SF-36 questionnaire, the overall quality of life of patients with a comorbid course of Ht and CP, compared to the group of patients with isolated CP, was reduced by 34.9% and 20.9% on the scales of physical and psychological health (р<0, 05).

Quality of Life and Persistence of Symptoms in Outpatients after Recovery from COVID-19.

Background and Objectives: Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 can have persistent symptoms after acute illness, which affects their quality of life (QoL). Research and data about this topic in Latin American ambulatory patients are scarce. Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective, transversal, and analytical study. To measure QoL, we used a validated Spanish version of the MOS/RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: We included 206 outpatients in the study. A total of 73.3% patients had persistence of one or more symptoms. The most frequent persistent symptoms were fatigue (36.9%), anxiety (26.2%), and headache (24.8%). No statistically significant difference in the SF-36 QoL scores and the frequency of persistent COVID-19 symptoms was found when comparing the ≤5 and >5 months groups, except for myalgia, which was less frequently observed in the >5 months group after COVID-19 (26.2% vs. 14.1%, p < 0.038). Female gender was associated with an increased risk of persistence of symptoms (OR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.56−5.57). Having comorbidities/sequelae attributed to COVID-19 and persistence of COVID-19 symptoms were associated risk factors for poor physical component summary (PCS); on the other hand, female gender, anxiety, and depression were associated with poor mental component summary (MCS). Conclusion: Most outpatients had persistent COVID-19 symptoms after infection. Persistence of symptoms was associated with poor MCS and PCS. It is important to follow-up not only patients discharged from the hospital after SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also those under ambulatory management to provide them with rehabilitation and psychological therapy to improve their QoL.

PRACTICAL ASPECTS AND RESULTS OF COGNITIVE THERAPY IN THE EARLY RECOVERY PERIOD OF ISCHEMIC STROKE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To determine the impact of cognitive training on the degree of cognitive functions recovery and quality of life in the early recovery period of ischemic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 108 patients with cerebral infarction were examined outpatiently, follow-up from 1 to 3 months from the onset of the disease. Basic assessment methods: screening index of cognitive disorders according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Results and Conclusions: Comprehensive rehabilitation measures for the early recovery period of ischemic stroke achieve improvement of the cognitive sphere: a significant increase in the average score on the Montreal scale of cognitive functions assessment (MoCA scale) in both observation groups.

[The life quality of the disabled as a result of diseases of peripheral nervous system].

The article considers results of studying the quality of life of disabled patients because of diseases of peripheral nervous system. The significantly low level of indices of quality of life self-assessment was established on all scales of SF-36 questionnaire that are from 3 to 7 times lower than similar indices in population of Russia. The assessment of quality of life of disabled patients is necessary to determine effectiveness of applied rehabilitation measures and application of obtained results in planning further rehabilitation and habilitation activities.

Physical activity measures in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: correlations between peak oxygen consumption, the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 questionnaire, and the number of steps from an activity meter.

BACKGROUND: Most studies to assess effort intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have used questionnaires. Few studies have compared questionnaires with objective measures like an actometer or an exercise test. This study compared three measures of physical activity in ME/CFS patients: the physical functioning scale (PFS) of the SF-36, the number of steps/day (Steps) using an actometer, and the %peak VO2 of a cardiopulmonary stress test. METHODS: Female ME/CFS patients were selected from a clinical database if the three types of measurements were available, and the interval between measurements was ≤ 3 months. Data from the three measures were compared by linear regression. RESULTS: In 99 female patients the three different measures were linearly, significantly, and positively correlated (PFS vs Steps, PFS vs %peak VO2 and Steps vs %peak VO2: all P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the relations between the three measures were not different in patients with versus without fibromyalgia and with versus without a maximal exercise effort (RER ≥ 1.1). In 20 patients re-evaluated for symptom worsening, the mean of all three measures was significantly lower (P < 0.0001), strengthening the observation of the relations between them. Despite the close correlation, we observed a large variation between the three measures in individual patients. CONCLUSIONS: Given the large variation in ME/CFS patients, the use of only one type of measurement is inadequate. Integrating the three modalities may be useful for patient care by detecting overt discrepancies in activity and may inform studies that compare methods of improving exercise capacity.

[Effectiveness of laparoscopic bariatric surgery: gastric plication vs sleeve gastrectomy]. / Sravnitel'naya otsenka effektivnosti laparoskopicheskikh bariatricheskikh operatsii: gastroplikatsii i prodol'noi rezektsii zheludka.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an effectiveness of laparoscopic bariatric surgery - sleeve gastrectomy and gastric plication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2017, laparoscopic gastric plication in 47 obese patients and sleeve gastrectomy in 108 patients were performed at the Askerkhanov Medical Center and Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center. Patients with morbid obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2) and obesity grade II (BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2) with one of such comorbidities as hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease, cholelithiasis underwent surgical treatment. The first group consisted of 35 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric plication, the second group - 87 patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Overweight loss, quality of life, and course of comorbidities were evaluated before surgery, in 12 and 24 months after surgery. MOS SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. RESULTS: Overweight loss after 24 months was 52.4±6.1% and 67.9±8.4% in the first and second groups, respectively (p=0.001). Quality of life after gastric plication is lower compared to sleeve gastrectomy. The greatest difference in favor of sleeve gastrectomy was obtained after 24 months regarding physical functioning (64.3±14.9 vs. 79.2±17.7; p=0.010) and emotional functioning (60.7±28.8 vs. 78.0±25.2; p=0.009). Regression of comorbidities after sleeve gastrectomy is more significant than after gastric plication. CONCLUSION: Gastric plication is less effective than sleeve gastrectomy. However, postoperative morbidity requiring redo surgery is lower after gastric plication.

[The Psychological Status of the Disabled due to ischemic heart disease].

The article analyzes psychological state of the disabled due to ischemic heart disease. It is established that depressive mood prevailing among the disabled decreases their quality of life and impedes effective medical and social rehabilitation that requires implementation of measures restoring psychological status of the disabled through rehabilitation program.

[Evaluation of the quality of life in patients with ischemic heart disease].

The aim of this study was to analyze quality-of-life parameters in patients with coronary heart disease in Chelyabinsk region. The number of patients with coronary heart disease who took part in this research was 830 people. The data were collected with using of application form that was supplemented by the Russian-language questionnaire SF-36. We determined the medical and social characteristics, the assessment of the conditions and lifestyle of patients with coronary heart disease, and the subjective assessment of the quality of life by themselves. We have been revealed statistically significant differences in assessing the quality of life by patients of different territorial groups. The data should be differentially use in developing of regional and territorial programs in order to reduce mortality from coronary heart disease.

The impact of haemophilia on the social status and the health-related quality of life in adult Lebanese persons with haemophilia.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies are increasingly needed to prevent and improve the medical care of persons with haemophilia (PWH). AIM: We assessed the impact of haemophilia on HRQoL and social status of adult Lebanese PWH compared to a reference population. METHODS: In this case-control study, 60 severe and moderate PWH were compared to 112 healthy controls. Detailed socio-demographic data and disease characteristics were collected, and HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Age, body mass index and the percentage of married people were similar in PWH and controls. A greater proportion of controls attained a higher educational level than cases (88.4% vs 59.3%, respectively, P < 0.001). PWH were more likely to have a job requiring physical activity than controls (55.9% vs 31.4%) and more likely to be unemployed (10.2% vs 1.0%), whereas more controls had higher socio-economic jobs (10.5% vs 1.7%). PWH had significantly (P < 0.001) worse scores in all SF-36 domains except for energy/fatigue. Affected targeted joints (2.7 ± 1.5) and monthly bleeding frequency (2.9 ± 2.4) were inversely correlated with almost all SF-36 domains. Only 26.7% of PWH walk normally, and walking abnormalities were inversely correlated with all SF-36 domains except role-emotional and emotional well-being. CONCLUSION: As compared with controls, the majority of Lebanese PWH has difficulties in social integration, has severe physical limitations and psychological impairments.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Vietnamese Breast Cancer Women.

The aim of the study was to investigate health-related quality of life among Vietnamese breast cancer women who were treated at National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2018. Information about physical functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health of 200 patients with breast cancer was collected through face-to-face interview, using short form-36 questionnaire. We found that the older patients (older than 50 years) had higher score of Mental Health than patients at age 50 and lower (P < .05). The patients who had better economic status had significantly higher score of Vitality (P < .05). Patients who were married and living with their partners/husband had better quality of life in General Health (P<0.05). The patients who had less than 6 months of treatment had better physical functioning score (P < .05) than the patients who had treatment longer than 6 months. Patients with caring supports from family members had higher scores of Bodily Pain, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health. Patients who have stressed feelings had significantly lower scores of all domains, except for Physical Functioning. The participants who usually stay up late reported lower scores of all components except for Physical Functioning and Role Physical. In conclusion, it is needed to develop psychosocial services, enhance early screening, and diagnose for the women in Vietnam.

Health-related quality of life in patients with alveolar echinococcosis: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare zoonosis caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. To date, nothing is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with AE. The aim of the study was to evaluate the HRQoL in patients with AE in comparison of the healthy population. METHODS: We used the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire to evaluate the HRQoL. The SF-36 scales have a range of 0-100 (0 represents the worst and 100 the most favourable state of health). SAS Version 9.2 was used for the statistical analysis of AE-cases (n = 30) and the healthy control group (n = 35). RESULTS: The analysis showed that the HRQoL in people with AE is reduced in comparison with the control population. The study group consisted of 15 (50.0%) men and 15 (50.0%) women; the control group of 16 (45.7%) men and 19 (54.3%) women. The mean age was 55.73 ± 16.65 years, while that of the control group was 54.57 ± 15.34 years. The physical quality of life in patients with AE (45.21 ± 11.42) was not significantly less than that of the control group (50.54 ± 10.52); p = 0.0568. Nevertheless, AE-patients show lower SF-36 scores for the physical quality of life. For the mental quality of life, patients with AE had a significantly lower score (45.46 ± 10.57) than the control group (51.57 ± 9.04); p = 0.0154. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQoL in people with AE is reduced in comparison with a control population. Assessment of the physical and mental quality of life in patients with AE may help to evaluate the patient outcome.

Comorbidities Might Condition the Recovery of Quality of Life in Survivors of Sepsis.

PURPOSE:: To assess how preexisting disabling comorbidities (DC) affect the recovery rate of quality of life (QOL) over time in sepsis survivors. METHODS:: A prospective study was conducted on sepsis survivors who answered the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) 7 days after discharge from the intensive care unit. Subsequent interviews were held at 3, 6, and 12 months. The results of the physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) of the SF-36 were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups to compare patients with DC (DC group) and without DC (no-DC group). Quantile regression was used to model changes in PCS and MCS between different time points. RESULTS:: Seventy-nine sepsis survivors were enrolled. After controlling for baseline age and QOL, the QOL scores were lower among patients with DC than in no-DC patients. The QOL of DC group got worse when compared to no-DC group. Recovery rate of PCS and MCS was higher in the DC group than in the no-DC group (PCS: 20.51 vs 16.96, P < .01; MCS: 19.24 vs 9.66, P < .01). Their baseline QOL was recovered only by 6 months after the sepsis episode. CONCLUSION:: Quality-of-life impairment and its recovery rhythm in patients with sepsis appear to be conditioned by coexisting DC.

Physical training following gastric bypass: effects on physical activity and quality of life-a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with physical inactivity and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aim to test the hypothesis that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) followed by supervised physical training improves physical activity (PA) levels and HRQoL. METHODS: Sixty patients, qualified for RYGB, were at 6 months post-surgery randomized to 26 weeks of a supervised physical training intervention (INT) or to a control (CON) group. PA was assessed by accelerometry and using the questionnaire RPAQ. HRQoL was measured by the SF-36 questionnaire. All assessments were performed pre-surgery and 6, 12, and 24 months post-surgery. RESULTS: RYGB did not improve objectively or self-reported PA, but improved all domains of SF-36 (all p < 0.01). Objectively measured light PA, moderate to vigorous PA, and step counts tended to increase in INT compared to CON 12 months after RYGB (0.05 < p < 0.09), but the effects failed to persist. The SF-36 domain "general health" increased in INT compared to CON 24 months after RYGB (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: RYGB improves HRQoL, but does not increase PA. Supervised physical training intervention improves general health 24 months after RYGB and tends to improve certain domains of PA right after the intervention period, but fails to increase the patients' overall PA level over time. Clinical Trial Registration Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov-no. NCT01690728.

[Quality of life and physical activity among elderly and old people.]

This article presents the results of the identification of the main causes of physical inactivity among the elderly and the assessment of the effectiveness of the inclusion of regular Nordic walking into the preventive system for the elderly in order to improve the quality of life. A comparative analysis of the quality of life was used among elderly and old people, regularly engaged in Nordic walking (intervention group) and leading a physically passive lifestyle (control group). It was established that regular physical activity allows the improvement of the quality of life and positively affects health in groups under study, but it is the elderly people who represent the most physically inactive part of the population. The main reasons for the physical inactivity among older people are the presence of diseases, fear of injury and falls, lack of energy and weakness, low level of motivation, lack of partners or friends for joint activities, etc. The above studies have shown that regular practice of Nordic walking improves the quality of life for both elderly and old people. It was evidenced by the results of the SF 36 questionnaire analysis when we compared not only intervention and control groups but the age differences in the quality of life in all groups under study. After 12 months of regular Nordic walking it was registered an increase of the quality of life estimated on the scales of role-playing physical functioning, overall health, role emotional functioning, vitality, psychological health, social functioning, which correlated both with the physical and psychological components of health. The results thus obtained make it possible to recommend Nordic walking as the most simple, accessible and at the same time effective type of physical activity for the elderly population, that helps to overcome the main causes of physical inactivity, restore the functional capabilities of the aging organism. Gerontotechnologies based on the regular activities of Nordic walking are one of the most effective ways to improve and maintain the quality of life and, as a result, the activity, mobility, self-care ability among elderly and old people.

Quality of life in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life in patients with rheumatic heart disease. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at the Gulab Devi Chest Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from October 2016 to March 2017, and comprised patients with rheumatic heart disease.Convenient sampling technique was used. The 36-item short form health survey was used to collect data. The scores of several dimensions of the questionnaire were calculated and compared using appropriate statistical tests. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 300 subjects, 150(50%) each were cases and controls. There were 45(30%) males and 105(70%) females among the cases and 63(42%) males and 87(58%) females among the controls. The affected individuals reported significant impairment not only in total score (p<0.001) but also in all its domains (p<0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Rheumatic heart disease imposed a considerable burden on the quality of life.

Determinants of health-related quality of life in anti-MAG neuropathy: a cross-sectional multicentre European study.

Our objective was to assess determinants of quality of life (QoL) in anti-myelin associated glycoprotein antibody (MAG) neuropathy. The SF-36 questionnaire was assessed in 55 patients, from Marseille, Angers (France) and Birmingham (UK). Routine clinical evaluations included Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score, inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) sensory score, inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability score (I-RODS), ataxia score, Jamar grip dynamometry, timed 10-m walk, neuropathic pain symptom inventory (NPSI) score, and fatigue severity score (FSS). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the SF36 questionnaire were significantly lower than in reported normal subjects of both countries (p < 0.001). All SF-36 domains correlated with I-RODS, except MCS for which significance was, however, approached (p = 0.056). PCS correlated with MRC sum score, ataxia score, timed 10-m walk, tremor, Jamar grip dynamometry, NPSI pain score, FSS and level of social support. MCS correlated exclusively with FSS and level of social support. In multivariate regression, PCS was associated independently with I-RODS (p < 0.001) and NPSI pain score (p = 0.011), whereas MCS was associated independently with FSS (p = 0.022). QoL is accurately predicted in anti-MAG neuropathy by the I-RODS and FSS, lending support to their use in clinical and research settings. Effective measures to improve QoL should include tremor and neuropathic pain treatment, fatigue management, and improved social support.

Quality of Life and Alleviation of Symptoms After Breast Reduction for Macromastia in Obese Patients: Is Surgery Worth It?

BACKGROUND: Breast hypertrophy can cause a variety of symptoms and affect lifestyle and quality of life. Breast reduction, being the most effective treatment, is sometimes difficult to establish as standard treatment in obese patients (difficulties to differentiate symptoms from macromastia or from obesity, higher rate of complications). AIM: To evaluate the effect of reduction mammaplasty (quality of life and symptoms) in obese patients comparing with non-obese. METHODS: This is a prospective study of patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. Patients were allocated in non-obese (BMI < 29) and obese (BMI > 30). Demographic data, comorbidities, specific symptoms questionnaire, data from the surgical procedure, Spanish version of the Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36) questionnaire, complications and sequels were recorded and collected before the operation and at 1 month and 1 year after. Chi-square, Fisher's exact t test, McNemar, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one consecutive patients were operated on; 54 (44.6 %) obese and 67 (55.4 %) non-obese. The average age of patients was 40.7 (18-78), average volume of resected tissue was 1.784 g (401-5.790), and average hospital stay was 2.94 days (1-11). There were no differences between obese and normal BMI patients with regard to length of hospital stay, complications, sequels, or reoperations. Symptoms improved in both groups. Physical and mental components of the SF-36 improved at 1 year in both groups (p < 0.001). The mental health component improved at 1 month (p < 0.001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients should be considered for reduction mammaplasty surgery in the same way as women of normal weight. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

[Quality of life assessment in patients with spinal radicular syndromes]. / Ocena jakosci zycia pacjentów z zespolami korzeniowymi.

UNLABELLED: Spinal radicular syndromes are a serious healthcare issue in the society nowadays. A common form of ailments related to the syndromes is sciatica, manifesting with severe pain radiating along the course of the sciatic nerve or brachialgia manifesting with severe pain perceived from the cervical spine area, through the arm and often along the entire upper limb to the fingers. In many patients the pain limits the ability to perform daily routine at work and at home. AIM: The aim of study was to assess the quality of life in patients with radicular pain and its influence on their ability to function in daily life and at work. The Quality of Life Index was also determined for physical and mental health in the study group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study covered 50 patients, both male and female (25 women with age average 51 and 25 men with age average 54) suffering from medically documented spinal radicular syndromes. The Quality of life SF-36 questionnaire - Short Form Health Survey was used in the study, along with a supplement specifying the study group, with an indication of the pain location and the patients' occupations. Additionally, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire - RM and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were applied. The results were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, tests of significance of differences between the two populations, covariance analysis, and correlation meters. RESULTS: In the female patients suffering from spinal radicular syndromes, the pathological process was most commonly located in the cervical spine, while in the male patients - in the lumbar spine. The Quality of Life index, at a statistically significant level (α < 0,05), is higher (hence the quality of life is lower) in females suffering from radicular pain. In the study group, age was a factor strongly correlated with the intensity of pain - the ailment progresses with age. In both groups, exacerbation of the disease process associated with spinal radicular syndromes hindered work performance and daily routines of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ailments associated with spinal radicular syndromes affect the quality of life of the female patients studied in this research to a greater extent than the male patients, both in terms of mental and physical well-being. The intensity of pain associated with spinal radicular syndromes progresses with age.

Pressure pain sensitivity as a marker for stress and pressure pain sensitivity-guided stress management in women with primary breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To validate (1) Pressure Pain Sensitivity (PPS) as a marker for stress and (2) a PPS-guided intervention in women with primary Breast Cancer (BC). METHODS: (1) A total of 58 women with BC were examined before and after 6 months of intervention. A control group of 165 women office employees was divided in a High Stress Group (HSG, n = 37) and a Low Stress Group (LSG, n = 128) to evaluate the association between PPS, questionnaire-related Quality of Life (QOL) and self-evaluated stress. (2) A PPS-guided stress management program (n = 40) was compared to a Psychosocial Group Intervention (PGI, n = 91) and no treatment (n = 86) with respect to a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire measured QOL. RESULTS: (1) Resting PPS and changes in PPS during the intervention period correlated significantly to EORTC and Short Form 36 (SF 36) main scores: (all p < 0.05). Between BC, HSG and LSG there was a significant and positive correlation with respect to PPS, SF 36 main scores, depression, and clinical stress scores (all p < 0.05). However, the BC group scored significantly lower than both HSG and LSG (both p < 0.05) with respect to self-evaluated stress. (2) The PPS-guided intervention group improved EORTC main score, pain and nausea, when compared to the control groups (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PPS was positively associated with QOL, which was in contrast to self-evaluated stress. PPS-guided intervention improved QOL in women with breast cancer.