Foot health-related quality of life in hemophiliacs: A case-control study

Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case-control study

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life of individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS.

Materials and methods

A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 individuals without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded.

Results

Of the participants, 27.79% (N = 30) were men and 73.21% (N = 82) were women. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group.

Conclusion

Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life, as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.

Influence of quality of life related to perceived foot health between in a rural an urban population: A case-control research

Foot problems are very common in the community. Studies indicate that between 18% and 63% of people have foot pain or stiffness and that foot problems have a large impact on people's functional decline and a significant detrimental impact on measures of quality of life related to health. The general objective of this research was to compare foot health in people from the rural population compared to people from the urban population and its relationship with quality of life. A case-control descriptive study was developed with a sample of 304 patients, 152 patients from the rural population and 152 patients from the urban population. Quality of life was measured through the SF-36 Health Questionnaire in its Spanish version. The rural population group had a mean age of 46.67 ± 13.69 and the urban population group 49.02 ± 18.29. Regarding the score of the lowest levels of quality of life related to foot problems, the rural population group compared to the urban population group showed: for body pain (52.21 ± 30.71 vs. 67.80 ± 25.28, p < 0.001); and for mental health (69.58 ± 18.98 vs. 64.60 ± 14.88, p < 0.006). Differences between groups were analysed using Student's t-test for independent samples, which showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). This research offers evidence that the rural population presents better levels of mental health and lower levels of bodily pain in the domains of the SF-36 Health Questionnaire comparing with the urban population.

Impact of Plantar Fasciitis on Foot-Specific and Generic Health-Related Quality of Life in King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia

Objectives The objective is to assess the extent of foot-specific and generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment among individuals diagnosed with plantar fasciitis (PF) at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, and to determine the influence of various sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we administered an online survey from March to June 2023 to patients with PF at King Khalid University Hospital. This questionnaire covered sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics, and included the translated Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ). Further, patient data were obtained from hospital records between 2016 and 2023 using the E-SIHI system. Results We recruited 209 patients for the study. Lower FHSQ scores were found in unemployed and low-income participants indicating a worse quality of life (QoL) in the Foot Pain domain, while those aged over 40 years and with low income showed greater impairment in the General Foot Health domain. No single factor influenced the Foot Function or Footwear domains. Worse General Health and Physical Activity scores were associated with low-education and low-income participants and those who did not exercise. Women exhibited a lower QoL than men in all domains except for General Health. Conclusion The QoL of Saudi women with PF was similar to that of women in other countries. However, the patients in the present study reported poorer footwear scores but better General Health scores. Therefore, focusing more on proper footwear-related treatments may help improve the QoL of patients with PF.

Foot health and quality of life among adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Foot conditions are frequent among the Saudi population. However, little is known regarding the effects of foot health on quality of life among the general Saudi population. This study aimed to assess foot health status, general health, and quality of life among the population of Riyadh using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, out of the total number of participants approached, using a preset questionnaire, by trained medical students to participate in this study, 398 met the inclusion criteria. The questionnaire started with an informed consent followed by a set of questions regarding the sociodemographic and past medical characteristics of the participants. Foot health and overall health were assessed using a FHSQ.

RESULTS

A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between all the FHSQ domains, except for footwear. The strongest correlation was observed between foot pain and foot function, foot pain and general foot health, and foot function and general foot health. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between general foot health and general health, vitality, social function. Our results also showed that foot pain, general foot health, vitality, and social function scores were significantly lower in women as compared to men.

CONCLUSION

Significant positive correlation was observed between poor foot health and declining quality of life; thus, it is crucial to increase society's awareness of the importance of medical foot care and continuous follow-up and consequences if left unrecognized and untreated. This is a major domain that can improve the well-being and quality of life of a population.

Health-related quality of life among adults with haemophilia in China: A comparison with age-matched general population

INTRODUCTION

Evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is vital for informing the improvement of the overall health of people with haemophilia (PwH). While there is lacking such data in China and comparisons with the general population.

AIM

To evaluate the HRQoL and its associated factors among adults with haemophilia, and compare it with a sample of the general population in China.

METHODS

PwH were recruited in this study using telephone-based interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were first collected. HRQoL was then evaluated using the self-reported Short Form 6-dimensions version 2 (SF-6Dv2) instrument. An age and gender-matched sample of the general population in China was also included as the comparator group. Linear regression was used to assess the association between the SF-6Dv2 utility value and the demographic and clinical variables of the patients.

RESULTS

This study included 206 PwH (mean [SD] age: 41.36 [14.48] years) and 206 respondents from the general population. PwH reported worse levels in physical functioning, role limitation, social functioning, and mental health dimensions on SF-6Dv2 than the general respondents. The mean (SD) utility of patients was .650 (.251), which was significantly lower than the general respondents (.786 [.183], P < .001). Being a student, having a higher monthly income, absence of comorbidities, having no target joints and requiring no treatment are independent predictors of a higher HRQoL for PwH.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first practical evidence of a significantly lower level of HRQoL in PwH than in the general population in China.

Impact of quality of life related to foot problems: a case-control study

Foot problems are highly prevalent conditions, being a frequent reason for medical and podiatric consultation. The aim of this study was to compare the differences of quality of life (QoL) related to foot health in people with and without the presence of foot problems. A case–control study was carried out in an outpatient centre, where a clinician recorded data related to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. In addition, self-reported data on foot health-related quality of life were recorded using the Spanish version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 498 participants (249 cases and 249 controls), with a median age of 30 years and an interquartile range of 23 years. The differences between the groups were statistically significant for gender, age, footwear, general health, foot health, and physical activity. Cases showed lower scores for the domain of footwear, physical activity and vitality compared to controls. Foot pathologies have a negative impact on quality of life related to foot health, and the domains of footwear, general health and physical activity seem to be the factors that are associated with the presence of alterations and foot deformities.