Ranking of diseases affecting the health-related quality of life of patients in Poland - a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiology of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) provides scientific evidence indicating the appearance of dysfunction and disability in patients in various aspects and, as a result, a decrease in the quality of life (QoL). The main aim of the research was to prepare a ranking of diseases determining the degree of disease incidence quality of life (HRQoL) of patients in physical and mental dimensions.

Material and methods: The study was carried out in a group of 7,620 patients assigned to 13 groups of disease entities. The quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. The chances of a better QoL were assessed and the groups of diseases determining the individual QoL dimensions were indicated. Multi-stage, stratified random sampling was used in the study to obtain representatives in each diseases entities.

Results: The worst quality of life among the 13 analysed diseases was noted among cancer patients. Patients with ENT (ear, nose, throat) diseases had the highest chance of a better QoL among the studied subjects (Mental Component Summary (MCS)-OR: 27.4; Physical Component Summary (PCS)-OR: 27.9). Diseases such as cancers, diseases of the nervous system and cardiovascular diseases determined the lowest QoL in terms of MCS, PCS and ILQ (Index of Life Quality). Additionally, lower QoL in the MCS dimension was also affected by diabetes, diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems.

Conclusions: Cancer, cardiovascular disease and diseases of the nervous system are the disease entities correlated with poorer quality of life.

Keywords: SF-36; diseases; quality of life.

Figure 1

Average level of perceived quality of life in the MCS, PCS and ILQ dimensions, including diseases MCS – Mental Component Summary, PCS – Physical Component Summary, ILQ SF – 36 – Index of Life Quality, CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system.

Figure 2

Frequency of occurrence of QoL of 50% and below (value 0) and above 50% (value 1) by disease considering MCS, PCS and ILQ (percentages) MCS_c – Mental Component Summary, PCS_c – Physical Component Summary, ILQ_c – Index of Life Quality, CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, 0 – measurement value 50% and below (poor quality of life), 1 – measurement value above 50% (good quality of life).

Figure 3

Frequency of occurrence of worse quality (value 0) of life in particular diseases, considering MCS, PCS and ILQ dimensions (percentage values) MCS_c – Mental Component Summary, PCS_c – Physical Component Summary, ILQ_c – Index of Life Quality, CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system.

Figure 4

Agglomeration of groups of diseases according to their negative impact on the level of quality of life assessed in the MCS using the Ward method CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, green cluster -> diseases lowering QoL more strongly, red cluster -> diseases least affecting QoL.

Figure 5

Agglomeration of groups of diseases according to their negative impact on the level of quality of life assessed in the PCS using the Ward method CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, green cluster -> diseases lowering QoL more strongly, blue cluster -> intermediate QoL, red cluster -> diseases least affecting QoL.

Figure 6

Agglomeration of groups of diseases according to their negative impact on the level of quality of life assessed in the ILQ using the Ward method CD – cancers, CVD – cardiovascular disease, DM – diabetes mellitus, DS – disease of digestive system, DSD-C – degenerative changes of the cervical spine, DSD-LS – degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, DSD-Th – degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, ED – ophthalmic diseases, LD – ENT diseases, NS – diseases of the nervous system, RS – respiratory diseases, TD – thyroid diseases, UD – diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, blue cluster -> diseases lowering QoL more strongly, green cluster -> intermediate QoL, red cluster -> diseases least affecting QoL.