Patterns of smoking and menopause-specific quality of life: smoking duration matters more

Association of Smoking Patterns with Vision-Related Disability According to Glaucoma Subtypes

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between smoking and onset of glaucoma has been inconsistent. However, there is a gap in understanding whether tobacco smoking is linked to a worse visual impairment in different glaucoma subtypes. The objective of this study was to examine the association between smoking behavior and vision-related disability in people who have different glaucoma subtypes.

METHODS

A total of 283 people with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and pseudo-exfoliative (PEX) were included in this cross-sectional study. The recruitment of study participants was organized in one of two tertiary centers for eye diseases in Belgrade, Serbia, during their regular eye checks. Information about the duration and quantity of smoking was self-reported. Vision-related impairment was quantified using a validated Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) questionnaire.

RESULTS

A series of multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, severity of glaucoma, lifestyle, and mobility, intraocular pressure level, visual parameters, previous and current therapy, and chronic illnesses suggested that a higher quantity of cigarettes smoked per day was associated with poorer vision-related quality of life only among people with NTG subtypes. This association was absent when smoking duration was tested in the adjusted linear regression model.

CONCLUSION

A higher number of cigarettes smoked daily was associated with poorer vision-related impairment among people who have NTG, but not other glaucoma subtypes. It is recommended that ophthalmologists and other health-care professionals work to improve their patients' understanding of harmful effects of tobacco smoke and quit smoking.

The Relationship Between Psychosocial Behavior and the Quality of Life of Male Gout Patients in Southwest China: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Purpose

Gout is more severe in men, leading to a poor quality of life. Previous studies did not sufficiently pay attention to the quality of life and related factors in gout patients in Southwest China. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life of men with gout in Southwest China and explore the relationship between psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life from the perspective of an information-motivation-behavioral skill model.

Patients and Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University located in Southwest China. In total, 230 male patients with gout were enrolled. The health-related quality of life of patients was assessed using the gout impact scale. The gout knowledge questionnaire was used to assess patients' information. The positive psycap questionnaire was used to assess motivation. The gout patients' self-management assessment scale was used to assess behavioral skills. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the factors associated with the health-related quality of life of patients.

Results

The overall mean gout impact scale score was 52.7±15.3 (maximum possible = 100). Factors associated with the total gout impact scale score were tophi (β=0.138, P=0.050), pain (β=0.255, P<0.001), and resiliency (β=-0.282, P<0.001). In addition, demographic characteristics (educational level, smoking and marital status), clinical characteristics (tophi, pain, number of attacks over half a year, and number of affected joints) and psychosocial behavior variables (resiliency, hope, disease treatment management, diet management) were associated with several dimensions of the gout impact scale.

Conclusion

The health-related quality of life of male patients with gout in Southwest China was at a medium level. We found that demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and psychosocial factors were associated with health-related quality of life of patients with gout. These findings can be used as a reference to improve health-related quality of life of patients with gout.

A study evaluating quality of life and factors affecting it before, during and after menopause

OBJECTIVE

To determine if quality of life (QoL) changes before, during and after menopause and whether these changes are linked to symptoms, demographics, and/or lifestyle factors.

METHODS

We undertook a cross-sectional online survey. We invited women aged between 35 and 60 years to complete the survey which included the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) generic quality of life measure, the menopause specific Utian-Quality of life (UQOL) measure, and questions about health and wellbeing, menopause symptoms and hormonal stage. The data were analysed with one-way ANOVA analysis and multivariate regression modelling.

RESULTS

279 women completed the survey. Most were aged between 51 and 55 years. In the unadjusted analysis there was a tendency for QoL to deteriorate from pre to peri to menopause and then increase slightly post menopause. This was however not significant in multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified that lifestyle factors significantly influenced QoL. Regular exercise resulted in better QoL scores across a number of the UQol and SF-36 sub-scales. Being very overweight and having more menopause symptoms resulted in worse QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there was a trend towards worse quality of life in the peri and menopause stages this was not significantly different in adjusted multivariate analyses. Those experiencing more symptoms had significantly worse QoL. Lifestyle factors may affect QoL, but the picture is not straightforward. It is promising that there was a trend toward improved QoL in the post-menopausal stage. These findings should inform education material and promote awareness of the menopause and its impact on QoL. (245).