PubMed · 12221801
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Alice Bell. 2002. Restored function, renewed hope.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12221801/
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between sociodemographic variables, body weight and quality of life in schizophrenic outpatients. METHODS: Assessments included an interview to obtain sociodemographic data, administration of a Quality of Life questionnaire (the MOS SF-36) and measurement of height and weight. Body mass index was calculated (kg/m(2)). SF-36 subscores were examined for statistical differences based on BMI categories: healthy weight (BMI or=30). Correlations with sociodemographic variables were also examined. RESULTS: Body weight was inversely correlated (level p<or=0.005) to the SF-36 items: physical functioning (PF, -0.452), role limitations due to physical functioning (-0.279), role limitations due to emotional functioning (-0.256), vitality (-0.200), general health (GH, -0.367) and physical component score (PCS, -0.400). Mental component score (MCS) was not significantly correlated to body weight. When comparing quality of life across BMI categories, obese subjects had worse physical functioning (p<or=0.0005) and general health (p<or=0.005), reported more role limitations due to emotional functioning (p<or=0.05) and a lower physical component score (p<or=0.005). Mental component score was not significantly influenced by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life in schizophrenic patients is related to body weight. The burden of obesity is primarily experienced as a physical problem.
To test whether antibodies against beta-amyloid are effective in slowing progression of Alzheimer's disease, we assessed cognitive functions in 30 patients who received a prime and a booster immunization of aggregated Abeta(42) over a 1 year period in a placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Twenty patients generated antibodies against beta-amyloid, as determined by tissue amyloid plaque immunoreactivity assay. Patients who generated such antibodies showed significantly slower rates of decline of cognitive functions and activities of daily living, as indicated by the Mini Mental State Examination, the Disability Assessment for Dementia, and the Visual Paired Associates Test of delayed recall from the Wechsler Memory Scale, as compared to patients without such antibodies. These beneficial clinical effects were also present in two of three patients who had experienced transient episodes of immunization-related aseptic meningoencephalitis. Our results establish that antibodies against beta-amyloid plaques can slow cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVES: We compared four health status measures for the evaluation of quality of life after hip fracture. METHODS: Two hundred and eight elderly hip fracture patients were followed up to 4 months after hospital admission. We used two interviewer-administered instruments (the Rehabilitation Activities Profile (RAP) and the Barthel Index (BI)) that focus on functional status, and two self-assessment instruments (the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the COOP/WONCA charts) that additionally include psychological and social health domains. The score distribution, internal consistency, construct validity, and sensitivity to change were investigated. RESULTS: At 4 months only 18% of surviving patients had reached the same level of functioning as before the fracture and, compared with reference values, lower scores of health status were found in the areas of physical mobility and emotional reactions. The number of comorbidities at hospital admission was the most important prognostic factor for recovery of health status at 4 months. The RAP and the BI both performed well in the assessment of functional status in regard to score distribution, internal consistency and construct validity. In contrast to the BI, the RAP also assessed instrumental activities of daily living and perceived problems with existing disabilities. The generic health status measures produced no added value in the assessment of functional status. The NHP covered a wider range of psychological health dimensions (emotion, pain, energy, and sleep) and had better psychometric properties than COOP/WONCA. None of the four instruments performed well in assessing social functioning. CONCLUSIONS: To assess health status after hip fracture, we recommend the RAP for functional status and the NHP for changes in emotion, pain, and energy. These instruments detected poor recovery in functional and emotional status at 4 months after fracture.