The impact of sleep disorders on the daily activity and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at determining the relationship between sleep disorders and daily activity and quality of life (QoL) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of databases was carried out. We used the Cochrane guidelines to perform the meta-analysis following the PRISMA statement. Fifteen full-text papers were ultimately included in the subsequent statistical analyses. The study was registered in the PROSPERO database (No. CRD42021245664). RESULTS: In group 1, the mean sleep quality score measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was 6.93. The mean QoL score for the physical domain and the mental domain of the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) was 38.15 and 41.83, respectively. In group 2, the mean PSQI score was 7.21. The mean daily activity score measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was 0.80. A strong negative correlation was observed between the PSQI scores, and the SF-36 total score each unit increase in the SF-36 total score was associated with an average decrease of 0.35 points in the PSQI score. A one-point increase in the PSQI score was associated with an average decrease of 2.4 points in the QoL score measured with SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: RA patients have a low quality of sleep. Sleep disorders correlate negatively with the QoL scores in the physical and mental domains.

Quality of life of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition, with an incidence of 15-50 cases per million annually. Available studies demonstrate that despite the longer survival of PAH patients, their quality of life (QoL) deteriorates as the condition progresses. Consequently, the goals of PAH therapy have expanded from increasing survival to improving health-related quality of life. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the available evidence about the level of QoL in patients with PAH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was performed using the Cochrane guidelines for conducting meta-analysis following the PRISMA statement. The meta-analysis includes findings from 11 studies evaluating the QoL of PAH patients at baseline and at follow-up (12 weeks) using the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36), the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR). RESULTS: The mean physical component score (SF-36) for the group was 37.2 points (95% CI: 33.24-41.16) and the heterogeneity coefficient was I²=97.71% (p < 0.001). The mean mental component score (SF-36) was 46.38 (95% CI: 44.21-48.56) and the heterogeneity coefficient was I²=87.92% (p < 0.001). The result indicates improved QoL 12 weeks after the intervention, though three papers did not fully confirm this. The greatest improvement in QoL was found in patients treated with bosentan and iloprost and the smallest improvement in QoL was found in patients treated with epoprostenol sodium. The heterogeneity coefficient was I²=91.36%, p < 0.001 for CAMPHOR and I²=97.65%, p < 0.001 for MLHFQ. CONCLUSIONS: PAH patients tend to have a poor QoL, mainly in the physical functioning domain, less so in the psychological functioning domain. QoL may be improved by therapeutic interventions, mainly pharmaceutical ones. Patients with PAH also tend to suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, or sleep disorders. All these factors are significantly correlated with poorer QoL.

Can life satisfaction be considered a predictor of quality of life in patients with lung cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between satisfaction with life and Quality of Life (QoL) in lung cancer patients, and to analyze the correlations of selected variables with QoL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 250 patients with lung cancer were enrolled into the study, with a mean age of 63.2± 9.4, and who were treated at the Regional Lung Hospital in Poland between January and June 2019. 110 patients (43.9%) were moderately satisfied with their life (18-23 points from SWLS). 72 (28.8%) had a high level of satisfaction, and 68 (27.2%) had a low level of satisfaction with life. RESULTS: Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life had a better QoL (p<0.001) and experienced less severe symptoms, with the exception of constipation, haemoptoe, soreness in the mouth, dysphagia, hair loss, and pain in the arms. Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life have a significantly lower intensity of behaviors associated with anxious preoccupation (p<0.001) and helplessness/hopelessness (p<0.001). Destructive coping styles increase as satisfaction with life decreases (p<0.001). Patients with a high level of satisfaction with life were more accepting of their illness (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients being treated for lung cancer have a moderate level of satisfaction with life. QoL is associated with satisfaction with life and increases depending on the level of satisfaction. Symptoms are less severe when patients are more satisfied with their life. Satisfaction with life was associated with acceptance of the illness and coping strategies. Not smoking, chest pain, time from diagnosis, performance status, and symptomatic treatment adversely affected satisfaction with life. Conversely, a lack of family history of cancer positively affected satisfaction with life.