Chronic exposure to hypercortisolism has significant impact on patient's health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as demonstrated with generic questionnaires. We have developed a disease-generated questionnaire to evaluate HRQoL in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS; CushingQoL). OBJECTIVE: Validate the CushingQoL questionnaire in patients with CS in clinical practice conditions. DESIGN: Observational, international, cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 125 patients were recruited by 14 investigators from Spain, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Italy over a 2-month period. Clinical and hormonal data were collected and correlated with results of the generic short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, a question on self-perceived general health status and the CushingQoL score. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were pituitary-dependent and 18 adrenal-dependent CS; 104 (83%) were females, mean age 45 years (range 20-73 years); 39 (31%) were currently hypercortisolemic; and 47 (38%) adrenal insufficient. In clinical practice, CushingQoL was feasible (117; 94% of patients fully responded to the questionnaire in a mean time of 4 min), reliable (Crohnbach's alpha=0.87), and valid (factorial analysis demonstrated unidimensionality and Rasch analysis lead to a final version with 12 items). A significant (P<0.001) correlation was observed between CushingQoL score and patients self-perceived general health status and dimensions of SF-36 (Pearson's correlation coefficient > or =0.597). Patients with current hypercortisolism scored worse (lower) than those without (44+/-22 vs 56+/-21, P=0.004). Linear regression analysis identified female gender and hypercortisolism as significant predictors for worse QoL. CONCLUSION: CushingQoL is useful to evaluate HRQoL in patients with CS and correlates with clinical parameters.
Evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with Cushing's syndrome with a new questionnaire / S. M., W., X., B., M. J., B., Colao, A., C. J., S., A., T., M. O., v.A., Pivonello, R., G., S., S. W., L., J. E., G.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0804-4643. - ELETTRONICO. - 158:(2008), pp. 623-630.
Evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with Cushing's syndrome with a new questionnaire
COLAO, ANNAMARIA;PIVONELLO, ROSARIO;
2008
Abstract
Chronic exposure to hypercortisolism has significant impact on patient's health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as demonstrated with generic questionnaires. We have developed a disease-generated questionnaire to evaluate HRQoL in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS; CushingQoL). OBJECTIVE: Validate the CushingQoL questionnaire in patients with CS in clinical practice conditions. DESIGN: Observational, international, cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 125 patients were recruited by 14 investigators from Spain, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Italy over a 2-month period. Clinical and hormonal data were collected and correlated with results of the generic short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, a question on self-perceived general health status and the CushingQoL score. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were pituitary-dependent and 18 adrenal-dependent CS; 104 (83%) were females, mean age 45 years (range 20-73 years); 39 (31%) were currently hypercortisolemic; and 47 (38%) adrenal insufficient. In clinical practice, CushingQoL was feasible (117; 94% of patients fully responded to the questionnaire in a mean time of 4 min), reliable (Crohnbach's alpha=0.87), and valid (factorial analysis demonstrated unidimensionality and Rasch analysis lead to a final version with 12 items). A significant (P<0.001) correlation was observed between CushingQoL score and patients self-perceived general health status and dimensions of SF-36 (Pearson's correlation coefficient > or =0.597). Patients with current hypercortisolism scored worse (lower) than those without (44+/-22 vs 56+/-21, P=0.004). Linear regression analysis identified female gender and hypercortisolism as significant predictors for worse QoL. CONCLUSION: CushingQoL is useful to evaluate HRQoL in patients with CS and correlates with clinical parameters.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
