A novel method for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life patient-reported outcome measurements.

BACKGROUND: This paper presents a novel methodology for translation and cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality-of-life patient-reported outcome measures, incorporating the Delphi method. Specifically, we describe the process of translating the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 from English to Norwegian using this method. METHODS: The multistep translation method combined the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life guidelines, an Expert Panel review, and the Delphi method. It comprised two independent forward- and back-translations. While the bilingual pelvic floor Expert Panel ensured rigorous cross-checking and effective cross-cultural adaptation, the addition of the Delphi method (comprising the attributes of anonymity, controlled feedback, and statistical group response) further established consensus on translated items. OUTCOMES: The application of the Delphi method in the Expert Panel phase proved adequate in producing comprehensible intermediate Norwegian versions ready for pilot testing. The Expert Panel reviewed the comments made by patients completing the instruments and offered advice to allow final translated versions to be produced and tested for measurement properties. This iterative approach, internal logic, and anonymity between rounds improved the evaluations that the panel members provided, which in turn enhanced the final translated Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this work represents the first demonstration of the application of an Expert Panel review incorporating a Delphi method to assess health-related quality-of-life instruments. The controlled feedback approach, iterative nature, internal logic, and anonymity of the Delphi consensus method appeared to ensure a good cross-cultural adaptation of these PROMs.

Quality of life in patients with achalasia: Associations with Eckardt score and objective treatment outcomes after peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Background and study aims Knowledge on self-reported quality of life (QoL) in achalasia and QoL improvements after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is limited. Furthermore, the clinical role of QoL in achalasia follow-up has not been evaluated. The present study aimed to examine QoL in achalasia patients before and after POEM and assess associations between QoL, Eckardt score (ES) and objective results. Patients and methods This was a single-center prospective study of treatment-naïve achalasia patients with 12-month follow-up after POEM including manometry, upper endoscopy, 24-hour pH registration, and timed barium esophagogram. QoL data were registered using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and esophageal module (QLQ-OES18). Comparison with a reference population was performed to assess impact of achalasia on QoL and effect of therapy. Mixed models for repeated measures were applied. Results Fifty patients (26 females) with a median age of 47 years (18-76) were included. Before treatment, all QoL domains were significantly impaired compared with an age- and gender-adjusted reference population ( P  < 0.05). No significant QoL-differences were found after POEM, except for fatigue and nausea/vomiting. Clinically relevant QoL improvement was observed in ≥ 50 % of the patients in all QoL domains, except for physical and role functioning. QoL was significantly associated with ES ( P  < 0.05) but not with objective results. Conclusions Achalasia is associated with severe QoL impairment. Following POEM, a significant and clinically relevant QoL improvement is observed. QoL is associated with ES, but not with objective results after POEM.

Outcome of Ulcerative Colitis 20 Years after Diagnosis in a Prospective Population-based Inception Cohort from South-Eastern Norway, the IBSEN Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The long-term course of ulcerative colitis [UC] is difficult to predict. Mortality, colectomy, cancer, and hospitalisation represent hard outcomes of disease. Moreover, knowledge on the risk of relapses and need for potent medication add important information about living with UC. We aimed to evaluate the course and prognosis of UC during the first 20 years after diagnosis, and to identify early prognostic risk factors. METHODS: From 1990 to 1994, a population-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease was enrolled in South-Eastern Norway. A systematic follow-up [FU] was conducted at 1,5, 10, and 20 years after diagnosis. Clinical outcomes were recorded continuously, and possible relationships between early disease characteristics and outcomes were analysed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 519 UC patients, 119 died, 60 were lost to FU, and 340 were included in the FU cohort. The 20-year cumulative risk of colectomy was 13.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] [11.4-14.6]). Extensive colitis at diagnosis was independently associated with an increased risk of colectomy compared with proctitis (hazard ratio [HR] = 2].8, 95% CI [1.3-6.1]). In contrast, mucosal healing at 1-year FU was independently associated with reduced risk of colectomy [HR = 0.4, 95% CI [0.2-0.8]), and inversely associated with subsequent risk of relapse [adjusted HR = 0.5, 95% CI [0.3-0.7]). CONCLUSIONS: The overall risk of colectomy in our cohort was lower than expected from previous studies, although considerable for patients with extensive colitis at diagnosis. Early mucosal healing was associated with better disease outcomes 20 years after diagnosis.

Risk of colorectal cancer in a population-based study 20 years after diagnosis of ulcerative colitis: results from the IBSEN study.

Objective: The association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) is widely accepted, although attenuated risk has been reported in recent years. Colonoscopic surveillance is recommended with intervals based on established clinical risk factors. Nevertheless, a significant number of patients develop interval cancers, indicating the need of improved individualised assessment. In the present study, we evaluated clinical risk factors associated with CRC during a prescheduled follow-up 20 years after diagnosis, the IBSEN study. Design: A population-based inception cohort of patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease from 1 January 1990 until 31 December 1993, prospectively followed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 years after diagnosis. A total of 517 patients with UC were included; 264 (51 %) men; median age at inclusion 37.4 years (4-88). Results: The overall incidence of CRC was 1.6% (8/517) at a 20-year follow-up. The total lifetime risk of CRC prior to or after UC diagnosis was 2.3%. (12/517). Patients older than 70 years at diagnosis had a 15-fold higher risk of CRC compared with those diagnosed when younger than 40 years, with HR 15.68 (95% CI: 1.31 to 187.92). Neither sex, first-degree relative with CRC, extent of colitis nor primary sclerosing cholangitis affected the risk of CRC. Conclusion: The risk of CRC in UC was low and comparable with the risk of CRC in the background population of Norway.

Serological antibodies and surgery in a population-based inception cohort of Crohn's disease patients - the IBSEN study.

Introduction: Serological antibodies have been associated with complicated disease course in Crohn's disease (CD), including the need for surgery.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if a panel of relevant antibodies could predict surgery in a prospective population-based cohort of patients with CD.Methods: The population-based IBSEN cohort has been followed prospectively for 20 years. At the 10- and 20-year follow-up, the following panel of serological antibodies was analysed: pANCA, ASCA IgA, ASCA IgG, anti-OmpC, anti-I2, and anti-CBir1. At the 20-year follow-up or until lost to follow-up, all CD-related surgeries were registered.Results: Serum was available from 159 patients at 10-year follow-up and 135 patients at 20-year follow-up. In 113 patients, serum was available at both time points. No significant change of antibody status (positive vs. negative) was found from 10-year to 20-year follow-up. Negative pANCA, positive ASCA IgA and positive ASCA IgG at 10-year follow-up were all individually associated with increased risk for CD-related surgery. There was no association between anti-OmpC, anti-I2 or anti-CBir1 and CD-related surgery. In a multiple regression model including disease location and behaviour, only stricturing or penetrating disease behaviour and negative pANCA remained significantly associated with higher odds for surgery.Conclusion: Positive ASCA IgA and IgG, and negative pANCA were associated with higher odds for CD-related surgery in univariate analysis. Since disease phenotype changes during the disease course, while serological antibodies are stable, our results support the use of pANCA, ASCA IgA and ASCA IgG as prognostic markers in CD.

Results from a randomized controlled trial testing StressProffen; an application-based stress-management intervention for cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: In-person cognitive-behavioral stress-management interventions are consistently associated with reduced cancer distress. However, face-to-face delivery is an access barrier for many patients, and there is a need to develop remote-delivered interventions. The current study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of an application (app)-based cancer stress-management intervention, StressProffen, in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Cancer survivors, maximum 1-year posttreatment (N = 172), were randomized to StressProffen (n = 84) or a usual care control group (n = 88). Participants received a blended delivery care model: (a) one face-to-face introduction session, (b) 10 app-based cognitive-behavioral stress-management modules, and (c) follow-up phone calls at weeks 2-3 and 6-7. Outcome measures included stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Short-Form Health Surveys [SF-36]) at 3-months post-intervention, analyzed with change scores as dependent variables in linear regression models. RESULTS: Participants were primarily women (82%), aged 20-78 years (mean 52, SD 11.2), with mixed cancer types (majority breast cancer; 48%). Analysis of 149 participants completing questionnaires at baseline and 3 months revealed significant intervention effects: decreased stress (mean difference [MD] -2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], [-5.2 to -0.4]; P = .022) and improved HRQoL (Role Physical MD = 17.7, [CI 3.7-31.3], P = .013; Social Functioning MD = 8.5, [CI 0.7-16.2], P = .034; Role Emotional MD = 19.5, [CI 3.7-35.2], P = .016; Mental Health MD = 6.7, [CI 1.7-11.6], P = .009). No significant changes were observed for anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS: Digital-based cancer stress-management interventions, such as StressProffen, have the potential to provide easily accessible, effective psychosocial support for cancer survivors.

A prospective study of patient reported urinary incontinence among American, Norwegian and Spanish men 1 year after prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pre- and post-radical prostatectomy (RP) responses in the urinary incontinence domain of Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26) in cohorts from the USA, Norway and Spain. METHODS: A prospective study of pre- and 1-year post-treatment responses in American (n=537), Norwegian (n=520) and Spanish (n=111) patients, establishing the prevalence of urinary incontinence defined according to published dichotomization. Thereafter we focused on the response alternatives "occasional dribbling", pad use and problem experience. A multivariate logistic regression analysis (significance level ≤ 0.01) considered risk factors for "not retaining total control". RESULTS: Compared to the European men, the American patients were younger, healthier and more presented with lower risk tumors. Before RP no inter-country differences emerged the prevalence of urinary incontinence (6%). One-year post-treatment urinary incontinence was described by 30% of the American and 41% of the European patients, occasional dribbling being the most frequent type of urinary leakage. In the multivariate analysis the risk of "not retaining total control" increased almost 3-fold in European compared to American patients, with age and co-morbidity being additional independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: After RP patients from Spain and Norway reported more unfavorable outcomes by EPIC-26 than the American patients to most of the urinary incontinence items, the difference between the European and American patients remaining in the multivariate analysis. The most frequent post-RP response alternative "occasional dribbling" needs to be validated with pad weighing as "gold standard".

The Impact of Spondyloarthritis and Joint Symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life and Fatigue in IBD Patients. Results From a Population-Based Inception Cohort (20-Year Follow-up in the Ibsen Study).

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often suffer from musculoskeletal manifestations. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fatigue are known to be associated with IBD activity and musculoskeletal complaints. The aim of this study was to determine the association between spondyloarthritis, arthralgia, or back pain and the patient-reported outcomes of HRQoL and fatigue in IBD patients 20 years after their diagnosis. METHODS: The IBSEN cohort was followed prospectively for 20 years. At the 20-year follow-up, the patients answered detailed questionnaires regarding rheumatological manifestations, intestinal symptoms, HRQoL, and fatigue. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between spondyloarthritis or joint symptoms and HRQoL or fatigue. Sex, IBD diagnosis, and age were included in all the multiple regression models, in addition to other clinically relevant confounders. RESULTS: In total, 441 patients (94%) completed the questionnaires at the 20-year follow-up. The criteria for spondyloarthritis (axial or peripheral) were fulfilled in 158 patients (36%), current back pain during the previous 3 months was reported by 79 patients (18%), and current arthralgia was reported by 178 patients (40%). Current back pain and arthralgia were independently associated with lower HRQoL, higher levels of fatigue, and chronic fatigue. A diagnosis of spondyloarthritis was not associated with reduced HRQoL or fatigue when adjusted for possible confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Current joint symptoms in IBD patients 20 years after diagnosis were associated with poorer HRQoL, higher levels of fatigue, and chronic fatigue, whereas spondyloarthritis did not impact HRQoL or fatigue negatively in this cohort.

Pain Severity and Vitamin D Deficiency in IBD Patients.

Background: Pain and vitamin D deficiency are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Disease activity, fatigue, frequent relapses, prior surgery and psychological factors all seem to influence the experience of pain in IBD. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with muscle and skeletal pain. This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between vitamin D deficiency and severity of pain in patients with IBD, and to investigate the influence of other socio-demographic and psychological variables on the experience of pain. Methods: Patients with IBD were recruited from nine hospitals in Norway in a multicenter cross-sectional study. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire was used to measure pain. Disease activity was assessed using clinical disease activity indices, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin. Regression models were fitted to explore a possible association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and pain severity. Results: Of 407 patients included in the analyses, 229 (56%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 178 (44%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Vitamin D deficiency was present in half (203/407) of patients. Presence of pain was reported by 76% (309/407). More severe pain was associated with female gender and increased disease activity scores, but not with increased CRP or fecal calprotectin. In CD, patients without prior intra-abdominal surgery reported more severe pain. In multivariate analyses, there was no association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and pain severity. Conclusions: In this study, no significant association between pain severity and vitamin D deficiency was revealed in patients with IBD.

Clinical relevance of pancreatobiliary and intestinal subtypes of ampullary and duodenal adenocarcinoma: Pattern of recurrence, chemotherapy, and survival after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of the classification of ampullary adenocarcinoma (AC) into pancreatobiliary (PB) or intestinal (Int) subtypes has not been resolved. METHODS: Clinicopathological factors, survival, and localization and treatment of recurrence were investigated for patients with AC and duodenal adenocarcinoma (DC) treated by pancreatoduodenectomy from 2000 to 2015. RESULTS: A total of 109 AC (45 PB, 64 Int) and 71 DC (all Int) were identified. Median overall survival (OS) for ACPB vs DC vs ACInt was 43.6 vs 51 vs 75 months, respectively. ACPB had significantly shorter OS than ACInt (p = 0.036). However, for AC stage (HR = 2.39; 95 %CI 1.23-4.64, p = 0.010) was the only factor associated with mortality risk in multivariate analysis. Localization of recurrence (n = 88) was predominantly distant (ACPB 81.5%; ACInt 92%; DC 91.7%, p = 0.371). Post-recurrence survival (PRS) for ACPB, ACInt and DC did not differ (6.9 vs 9.2 vs 7.5 months, p = 0.755). Best supportive care or palliative chemotherapy were offered for recurrent disease to 44.5%/48.1% for ACPB, 40%/56% for ACInt, and 41.7%/52.8% for DC (p = 0.947). The choice of chemotherapy regimen varied considerably. Five patients underwent surgical resection or ablation with curative intent. All deaths among ACPB were caused by recurrent disease, whereas 29.4% of ACInt and 23.1% of DC deaths was non-cancer related or caused by other specific cancer. CONCLUSION: ACPB, ACInt and DC have similar recurrence patterns and PRS. The difference in survival between ACPB and ACInt was not statistically significant when stratified by stage. The optimal chemotherapy in patients with recurrent AC remains undefined.

Real world data on effectiveness, safety and therapeutic drug monitoring of vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A single center cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The efficacy of vedolizumab (VDZ) has been demonstrated in clinical trials. The aim of this report is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of VDZ in a real-world cohort and to explore possible associations between concentration measurements of VDZ and treatment effectiveness. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical follow-up including all adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) treated with VDZ from October 2014 until September 2017 at a single center in Norway. The patients were followed for at least 14 weeks or until termination of treatment. Clinical and biochemical activity were obtained at every infusion throughout follow-up. Plasma measurements of VDZ (p-VDZ) were performed before every infusion during maintenance therapy. RESULTS: In total, 71 patients received VDZ. Improvement of CRP and hemoglobin was observed in CD but not in UC, whereas Partial Mayo Score improved in UC while no change in Harvey Bradshaw Index was revealed in CD. Furthermore, CRP at baseline was negatively correlated with p-VDZ at week 14 in CD but not in UC patients. CONCLUSION: Improvement of biochemical markers of inflammation was observed in CD while clinical activity scores improved in UC patients. For CD, baseline CRP was correlated with lower concentrations of p-VDZ at week 14.

Clinical Outcome of Patients With High-Risk Endometrial Carcinoma After Treatment With Chemotherapy Only.

OBJECTIVES: Adjuvant treatment of high-risk endometrial cancer (EC) is still controversial. Several studies have tried to clarify the best treatment strategy, and guidelines have been made, but no study to date has shown a survival benefit for radiation over chemotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of high-risk EC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy only in a population where the routine administration of adjuvant radiotherapy was omitted. METHODS: This is a retrospective study including 230 EC patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I type II, stage Ib type I/G3, stage II, and IIIc treated at Oslo University Hospital between 2005 and 2012. Standard treatment was hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and at least pelvic lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 230 high-risk patients, standard treatment was given to 146 patients (63.5%): 60 patients in stage I, 10 patients in stage II, and 76 patients in stage IIIc. Only 10% of patients with stage I disease relapsed, with 3.3% locoregional relapses and 6.7% distant relapses. Recurrence rate in stage IIIc was 39.5%, with 7.9% isolated vaginal and 31.6% distant relapses. The 3-year disease-free survival was 92% for stage I, 80% for stage II, and 60% for stage IIIc disease. In the total population, 55 patients had International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage Ia, 43 Ib, 42 stage II, and 90 stage IIIc disease. Recurrence rate in the total population was 29.6%, with 9.6% isolated vaginal recurrences, 1.7% recurrences located in the pelvis, and 18.3% distant recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high-risk EC have acceptable vaginal/pelvic control rates after adjuvant chemotherapy. However, prognosis remains poor for patients with stage IIIc disease, also after chemotherapy.

Peripheral arthritis in patients with long-term inflammatory bowel disease. Results from 20 years of follow-up in the IBSEN study.

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral arthritis and related musculoskeletal manifestations, often classified as peripheral spondyloarthritis, are frequently seen in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Few long-term studies have reported on the prevalence of these conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBD-related peripheral arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis in IBD patients during 20 years of disease course, and to assess whether these conditions were associated with the intestinal IBD severity and activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an inception cohort (the IBSEN study), IBD patients were followed prospectively for 20 years. At the 5 year follow-up the patients underwent a rheumatological examination and at the 20 year follow-up they completed a questionnaire with identical questions. When peripheral arthritis was characteristic and not explained by other specific diagnoses, it was defined as IBD-related peripheral arthritis. The Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society criteria were used to define peripheral spondyloarthritis, including patients with peripheral arthritis, enthesitis and/or dactylitis. RESULTS: After 20 years of follow-up, 441 patients were included (296 ulcerative colitis and 145 Crohn's disease). The prevalence of IBD-related peripheral arthritis was 17.2% and peripheral spondyloarthritis 27.9% during the disease course. IBD severity and activity were not different between those with a history of IBD-related peripheral arthritis or peripheral spondyloarthritis and those without. A higher proportion of women had IBD-related peripheral arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis. CONCLUSION: During 20 years of disease course, more than every sixth patient had suffered from IBD-related peripheral arthritis and every fourth from peripheral spondyloarthritis.

Fatigue is not associated with vitamin D deficiency in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

AIM: To investigate if vitamin D deficiency is associated with fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: IBD patients were recruited from nine hospitals in the southeastern and western regions of Norway to participate in a multicenter cross-sectional study lasting from March 2013 to April 2014. Data were collected by interviews, from medical records and laboratory tests. The Fatigue Questionnaire (FQ) was used to measure fatigue. Linear and logistic regression models were applied to explore the possible association between vitamin D deficiency and total fatigue scores and chronic fatigue, respectively. The analyses were adjusted for age, gender, disease activity, depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance. RESULTS: In total, 405 patients were included in the analyses, of which 227 (56%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 178 (44%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) was present in half (203/405) of the patients. Chronic fatigue was reported by 116 (29%) of all included patients with substantial fatigue reported by 194 (48%). Vitamin D levels were neither associated with total fatigue nor with chronic fatigue. Higher total fatigue scores and chronic fatigue were both associated with increased disease activity scores in patients with UC and CD, but not with increased CRP or fecal calprotectin. In UC patients, female gender was associated with fatigue in the univariate analysis, but no such difference was found when adjusted for elevated disease activity scores. Sleep disturbance and more depressive symptoms were associated with total fatigue scores in both UC and CD patients, but with chronic fatigue only in CD patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, no significant association between fatigue and vitamin D deficiency in IBD patients was revealed.

Switching from originator to biosimilar infliximab - real world data of a prospective 18 months follow-up of a single-centre IBD population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Long-term data regarding switching from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 are sparse. Concerns about increased immunogenicity after switching have been raised. We aimed to study the effectiveness, safety and immunogenicity after switching from originator infliximab to CT-P13 in a real-world IBD population with 18 months prospective follow-up. METHODS: All adult IBD patients treated with originator infliximab at the Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, were switched to CT-P13 and followed prospectively for 18 months. The primary endpoints were (i) the proportion of patients remaining on CT-P13 18 months after switching and (ii) immunogenicity during 18 months after switching. The secondary endpoints included (i) adverse events, (ii) changes in disease activity, C-reactive protein, anaemia, faecal calprotectin, infliximab dose and interval and p-infliximab. RESULTS: In total, 143 IBD patients were switched, 99 with Crohn's disease and 44 with ulcerative colitis. Altogether, 130 (91%) remained on CT-P13 throughout 18 months. Two patients developed ADAs at moderate level and discontinued CT-P13. Another 10 patients discontinued CT-P13 (two due to loss of response without ADAs, four due to adverse events, and four in remission and a personal wish to stop). There was no overall change in disease activity scores or in the other studied variables except for p-infliximab, which increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides valuable evidence for the safety and effectiveness of switching from originator to biosimilar infliximab over a prolonged period of 18 months and demonstrates that switching was well tolerated and did not affect the long term clinical outcome.

Symptom Experience and Self-rated Physical Functioning in Patients With Ovarian Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVES: In this longitudinal study, we investigated occurrence of multiple symptoms during chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer. We also evaluated whether self-rated physical functioning, selected demographic, and clinical variables were associated with symptom burden over time. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In total, 82 patients provided longitudinal data (4 time points) by completing questionnaires including the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, and the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. Karnofsky Performance Status Scale score of less than 80 was defined as low and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale score 80 or higher as high physical functioning. Possible associations between the most frequent symptoms and selected variables were modeled using binary logistic regression for repeated measures. RESULTS: Palliative treatment was the main reason for treatment for 85% of the patients. Sixty percent of the patients reported high prevalence of symptoms, particularly lack of energy, difficulty sleeping, and worrying. The total number of symptoms increased during the treatment and returned to enrollment values at 6 months. This trend was dominated with physical symptoms. When we compared women with low (n = 33) versus high physical functioning (n = 49) at enrollment, low physical functioning was significantly associated with more symptoms and distress for the study period. Patients with low physical functioning were more likely to experience lack of energy (odds ratio [OR] = 8.33), feeling drowsy (OR = 4.17), feeling bloated (OR = 2.44), feeling sad (OR = 3.33), having pain (OR = 4.72), and worrying (OR = 2.50), and this remained stable throughout the observation period of 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: A high symptom burden was reported in this cohort of patients with ovarian cancer mainly treated with palliative intent. Low self-rated physical functioning was strongly associated with high symptom burden for the 6-month period. When chemotherapy is discussed with patients with ovarian cancer with low physical functioning, possible palliation benefits must be weighed against the added risk of long-term distressful symptoms that chemotherapy implies.

The Effect of Cancer Patients' and Their Family Caregivers' Physical and Emotional Symptoms on Caregiver Burden.

BACKGROUND: Although there is significant evidence that the family caregivers (FCs) of cancer patients can experience significant caregiver burden and symptoms, less is known about the relationships between FCs and patient characteristics that influence caregiver burden. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cancer patients' and FCs' symptoms and demographic characteristics on caregiver burden at initiation of the patients' radiation treatment. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-one dyads of FCs and cancer patients who received a diagnosis of breast, prostate, melanoma, lymphoma, and head and neck cancers were recruited at the beginning of the patients' radiation treatment. Measures of depression, sleep disturbance, fatigue, social support, and self-efficacy were obtained from both FCs and cancer patients. The family caregivers were also assessed for caregiver burden. Associations between patients' and caregivers' symptoms and demographic characteristics and caregiver burden were investigated using multivariate analyses. RESULTS: There were significant associations between caregiver burden and the patient-related variables such as self-efficacy (P = .02), sleep disturbance (P = .03), and social support (P = .04). Among FC-related variables, higher scores of depression (P < .01), fatigue (P < .01), and symptoms (P < .01) were significantly associated with higher caregiver burden. Being a female, either as a patient or FC, increased the likelihood of experiencing fatigue and sleep disturbance. CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden in FCs is influenced by interplay of patients' and their own symptoms and problems. These interdependencies exist from the beginning of treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses should systematically assess the problems and symptoms of the patients and FCs and support them from the time of diagnosis to help prevent symptom development and deterioration.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis in Patients With Long-term Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From 20 Years of Follow-up in the IBSEN Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] often suffer from rheumatic manifestations, including inflammatory back disorders. The prevalence of these disorders late in the course of IBD is poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of inflammatory back disorders in patients with IBD 20 years after diagnosis, and to investigate possible associations with IBD severity, HLA-B27, and the NOD2 genotype. METHODS: A population-based cohort [the IBSEN study] was followed prospectively for 20 years. Information covering IBD activity and rheumatic diseases was collected at the regular follow-ups. HLA-B27 and NOD2 were analysed as present or absent. RESULTS: At 20 years, 599 members of the original cohort were alive, of whom 470 [78.5%] were investigated [314 ulcerative colitis and 156 Crohn's disease patients]. Ankylosing spondylitis was diagnosed in 21 patients [4.5%], axial spondyloarthritis was diagnosed in 36 patients [7.7%], and inflammatory back pain was diagnosed in 54 patients [11.5%]. Chronic back pain [back pain > 3 months] was present in 220 patients [46.8%]. HLA-B27 was associated with ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis, and inflammatory back pain, whereas no significant association was found for NOD2. A more chronic IBD course was associated with axial spondyloarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed a high prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis, and inflammatory back pain 20 years after the IBD diagnosis. HLA-B27 but not NOD-2 was a predisposing factor for the inflammatory back disorders in IBD patients. Axial spondyloarthritis was associated with a more chronic active IBD disease course.

Troponinas de alta sensibilidad T vs I en Sindrome Coronario Agudo: Predicción de lesiones coronarias significativas y pronóstico a largo plazo / High-Sensitivity Troponin T vs I in Acute Coronary Syndrome: Prediction of Significant Coronary Lesions and Long-term Prognosis

Antecedentes: Los ensayos de troponinas cardíacas de alta sensibilidad (hs-cTn) tanto T e I son una herramienta crucial y bien establecida para el diagnóstico de infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM), ya que se ha demostrado ampliamente su superioridad respecto a las antiguas determinaciones de troponina. Sin embargo, eventuales diferencias entre ambos ensayos en la predicción de lesiones coronarias significativas y el pronóstico a largo plazo en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo (SCA) no han sido aclarados completamente. Métodos: Se evaluaron las concentraciones séricas de hs-cTnT (Roche), hs-cTnI (Abbott) y porción amino-terminal del pro-péptido natriurético tipo B (NT-proBNP) (Roche) en 390 pacientes con SCA sin elevación del segmento ST, y se relacionaron con lesiones coronarias significativas detectadas por angiografía coronaria (definidas como estenosis >50% del diámetro luminal, con necesidad de revascularización) y con la precisión pronóstica de mortalidad cardiovascular, mortalidad por cualquier causa, así como también con el punto final compuesto por mortalidad cardiovascular y hospitalizaciones por IAM o insuficiencia cardiaca. Resultados: La media (+DE) del seguimiento fue de 2921+168 días. Las concentraciones absolutas de hs-cTnI fueron significativamente mayores que las concentraciones de hs-cTnT. La relación entre los biomarcadores analizados y lesiones coronarias significativas en angiografía coronaria, cuantificada por el área bajo la curva ROC (AUC), no reveló diferencias entre hs-cTnT [AUC, 0,81; IC del 95%, 0,77- 0,86] y hs-cTnI (AUC, 0,81; IC del 95%, 0,76-0,86; P=NS). Sin embargo, NT-proBNP fue superior a ambos ensayos de hs-cTn en relación con la precisión pronóstica tanto para mortalidad cardiovascular y por cualquier causa, como para el punto final compuesto durante el seguimiento, aún también en análisis multivariados. Conclusiones: Los determinaciones de hs-cTnT y hs-cTnI mostraron una capacidad similar para predecir lesiones coronarias significativas en pacientes con SCA sin elevación del segmento ST. NT-proBNP fue superior a ambos ensayos de uscTn, como marcador de pronóstico a largo plazo en este grupo de pacientes.

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) T and I assays are established as crucial tools for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), as they have been found superior to old troponin assays. However, eventual differences between the assays in prediction of significant coronary lesions and long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have not been fully unraveled. Methods: Serum concentrations of hs-cTnT (Roche), hs-cTnI (Abbott), and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; Roche) in 390 non-ST-elevation (NSTE) ACS patients were evaluated in relation to significant coronary lesions on coronary angiography (defined as a stenosis >50% of the luminal diameter, with need for revascularization) and prognostic accuracy for cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, as well as the composite end point of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations for AMI or heart failure. Results: The mean+SD follow-up was 2921+168 days. Absolute hs-cTnI concentrations were significantly higher than the hs-cTnT concentrations. The relationship between analyzed biomarkers and significant coronary lesions on coronary angiography, as quantified by the area under the ROC curve (AUC), revealed no difference between hs-cTnT [AUC, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.86] and hs-cTnI (AUC, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.76-0.86; P=NS). NT-proBNP was superior to both hs-cTn assays regarding prognostic accuracy for both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and for the composite end point during follow-up, also in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: The hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI assays displayed a similar ability to predict significant coronary lesions in NSTE-ACS patients. NT-proBNP was superior to both hs-cTn assays as a marker of long-term prognosis in this patient group.

Fatigue During and After Breast Cancer Therapy-A Prospective Study.

CONTEXT: Chronic fatigue (CF) in breast cancer (BC) survivors is multifactorial and may be caused by immune activation triggered by BC or its treatment. In the Neoadjuvant Avastin in Breast Cancer study, BC patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FEC100→taxane) ± bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody with fatigue as a potential side effect. OBJECTIVES: To examine fatigue levels and prevalence of CF before and during chemotherapy and at follow-up, and their associations with C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical variables. METHODS: Eighty-four HER2-negative patients with cT2-4N0-3M0 BC responded to questionnaires and had CRP measured before treatment (T0), after FEC100 (T1), after taxanes before surgery (T2), and at two-year follow-up (T3). RESULTS: The prevalence of CF increased from 8% at T0 to 36% at T3, P < 0.0001. Fatigue levels peaked during chemotherapy from 12.0 at T0 to 20.0 at T2, and declined to 16.7 at T3, P < 0.001. Women with CF at T3 had higher fatigue levels at T0, T2, and T3 than those without CF (P ≤ 0.01). Psychological distress (P = 0.03) and pain (P = 0.04) at T3 were associated with CF at T3. Only psychological distress remained a significant predictor in multivariate analysis. CRP increased from T0 to T1 (P < 0.01) and declined to baseline values at T3, but changes were not associated with bevacizumab treatment. No association was found between bevacizumab or CRP, and fatigue levels or CF. CONCLUSION: Neither bevacizumab treatment nor low-grade systemic inflammation as measured by CRP was associated with the increased fatigue levels and raised prevalence of CF, observed during and after BC therapy. Increased fatigue levels at baseline and psychological distress at T3 were associated with CF at T3.