Calidad de vida en pacientes con incontinencia fecal y su relación con la gravedad de la misma / Quality of life and its association with the severity of fecal incontinence

Introducción La escala de Wexner es una de las más utilizadas para evaluar la gravedad de la incontinencia fecal (IF). El SF-36 y la escala específica, Fecal incontinence quality of life scale (FIQLS) son instrumentos validados en castellano para el estudio de la calidad de vida.ObjetivosEvaluar la correlación entre la gravedad de la IF y la afectación de la calidad de vida mediante las escalas SF-36 y FIQL.Material y métodosSetenta y tres pacientes con IF completaron las escalas de Wexner, SF-36 y FIQL. El punto de corte de gravedad, según lo publicado en estudios previos, fue 9 (Wexner ≥9: IF grave; Wexner <9: IF leve).ResultadosLa puntuación en las subescalas del SF-36 fueron más bajas que en la población general (p<0,001). El componente mental del SF-36 se correlacionó con los dominios «conducta» y «vergüenza» de FIQLS (p<0,05). La puntuación de Wexner se correlacionó con todos los dominios de FIQLS (p<0,01). Los resultados para todos los dominios de FIQLS fueron menores para el grupo Wexner ≥9 comparado con el grupo Wexner <9 (p<0,001). No se encontró correlación entre la puntuación de Wexner y el SF-36. La edad, IF de urgencia, frecuencia diaria, co-morbilidad y cirugía ano-rectal empeoran distintos aspectos de la calidad de vida en la escala FIQL.ConclusionesLos pacientes con IF tienen gran afectación de la calidad de vida medida con las escalas SF-36 y FIQL. La gravedad de la IF se correlaciona con la escala FIQL. Otros factores como la edad, el tipo y la frecuencia de la IF deben considerarse al evaluar la calidad de vida (AU)

Background Wexner's score is widely used to assess the severity of fecal incontinence (FI). The 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQLS), a disease-specific scale, are instruments measuring quality of life that have been validated into Spanish.AimTo evaluate quality of life in patients with FI by using the FIQL and SF-36 scales to correlate the results with the Wexner's score.MethodsWexner's score, SF-36 and FIQLS were completed by 73 patients. The cut-off point for severity, as previously published, was 9 (Wexner's score <9=mild FI; Wexner's score ≥9=severe FI).ResultsThe scores for all SF-36 sub-scales were lower in patients with FI than in the healthy Spanish population (p<0.001). The mental component of the SF-36 correlated with the subscales of «behavior» and «embarrassment» of the FIQLS (p<0.05). Wexner's score correlated with all the domains of the FIQLS (p<0.01). The results for all the domains of the FIQLS were lower for the Wexner ≥ 9 group than for the Wexner <9 group (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between Wexner's score and the SF-36. Age, urge and daily FI, comorbidity and anorectal surgery worsened different aspects of quality of life measured by the FIQLS.ConclusionsQuality of life measured by the SF-36 and FIQLS was substantially impaired in patients with FI. The severity of FI correlated with FIQLS. Other factors such as age, type and frequency of FI should be considered when evaluating quality of life (AU)

[Quality of life and its association with the severity of fecal incontinence]. / Calidad de vida en pacientes con incontinencia fecal y su relación con la gravedad de la misma.

BACKGROUND: Wexner's score is widely used to assess the severity of fecal incontinence (FI). The 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQLS), a disease-specific scale, are instruments measuring quality of life that have been validated into Spanish. AIM: To evaluate quality of life in patients with FI by using the FIQL and SF-36 scales to correlate the results with the Wexner's score. METHODS: Wexner's score, SF-36 and FIQLS were completed by 73 patients. The cut-off point for severity, as previously published, was 9 (Wexner's score <9=mild FI; Wexner's score ≥9=severe FI). RESULTS: the scores for all SF-36 sub-scales were lower in patients with FI than in the healthy Spanish population (p<0.001). The mental component of the SF-36 correlated with the subscales of «behavior¼ and «embarrassment¼ of the FIQLS (p<0.05). Wexner's score correlated with all the domains of the FIQLS (p<0.01). The results for all the domains of the FIQLS were lower for the Wexner ≥ 9 group than for the Wexner <9 group (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between Wexner's score and the SF-36. Age, urge and daily FI, comorbidity and anorectal surgery worsened different aspects of quality of life measured by the FIQLS. CONCLUSIONS: quality of life measured by the SF-36 and FIQLS was substantially impaired in patients with FI. The severity of FI correlated with FIQLS. Other factors such as age, type and frequency of FI should be considered when evaluating quality of life.