Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Diseases in Germany
Author Information
Author(s): Wang Hong-Mei, Beyer Martin, Gensichen Jochen, Gerlach Ferdinand M
Primary Institution: Institute of Social Medicine and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
Hypothesis
How does the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with chronic diseases in general practice compare to those without chronic conditions and the general population?
Conclusion
Patients with chronic diseases in general practice in Germany have a lower quality of life, particularly in physical health, compared to those without chronic conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with chronic diseases reported significantly lower SF-36 scores than the general population.
- Chronic diseases like depression and back pain had a more substantial impact on HRQoL than hypertension and diabetes.
- Patients in general practice had higher proportions of problems in all EQ-5D dimensions except for self-care.
Takeaway
This study found that people with chronic illnesses visiting the doctor in Germany feel less healthy than those without such illnesses.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey using the SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires was conducted in 20 general practices in Germany.
Potential Biases
The study may have selection bias due to the nature of consecutive visit-based sampling.
Limitations
The study used a convenience sample and may not generalize to all patients in general practice, particularly low users.
Participant Demographics
61.4% were women, mean age was 48.5 years, with a range of 15-89 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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