Translation and validation of the Italian version of the Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-WISQOL) for assessing quality of life in patients with urolithiasis

BACKGROUND

Urolithiasis is a chronic condition, and it has been associated with a significant negative impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Several tools to assess patients' HRQOL have been validated in Italian, however disease-specific HRQOL instruments are still lacking. We aimed to develop and validate the Italian version of the WISQOL (I-WISQOL) in patients with urolithiasis.

METHODS

The Italian version of the WISQOL was developed in a multistep process involving primary translation, back-translation, and pilot testing among a group of patients (N.=10). Patients presenting with urolithiasis were prospectively recruited from the outpatient stone clinics and completed both questionnaire WISQOL and SF-36. Demographic information, as well as medical and surgical data, were obtained through an interview. Internal consistency of the I-WISQOL was obtained with Cronbach's α. Correlation of total scores of the I-WISQOL and SF36 was assessed to determine convergent validity using Spearman Rho. Correlations between clinical variables and results from the I-WISQOL were analyzed to descriptively assess the association of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 93 participants were evaluated and completed the Italian version of the I-WISQOL. The I-WISQOL demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.95) and good convergent validity with the validated SF-36 (Spearman Rho r=0.70, P<0.001). Using ANOVA analysis, a significant decline in WISQOL Score was noted with the increasing number of renal colics (P=0.0543), ER visits (P=0.037), number of inpatient hospitalization (P=0.025). At multivariate analysis, worse WISQOL total score was predicted by a greater number of renal colic events (ß=-4.92 [-8.81-1.04], P=0.014) and by a greater number inpatient hospitalization (ß=-7.31 [-14.35 -0.26], P=0.042).

CONCLUSIONS

The I-WISQOL is an internally consistent and valid instrument to assess HRQOL in Italian-speaking patients with kidney stones. Its use in clinical practice should be implemented in order to tailor the management of each patient.

Management of the incidental adrenal mass, continued surveillance versus surgical excision: analysis of US claims data on contemporary socio-demographic predictors and perioperative outcomes

BACKGROUND

Incidentally diagnosed adrenal masses represent an entity that can result in either long term follow-up, surgical excision, or both. Understanding when and which adrenal masses are ultimately excised surgically is not well understood. We sought to understand the ultimate fate of these incidentalomas using a large population-based dataset.

METHODS

The primary outcome of the study was determining the trend in adoption of surveillance vs. surgical excision according to socio-demographic, economic, and pathologic indices, and also provider specialty. Secondary outcomes were the assessment of perioperative complications, operative time, surgical approach, hospital stay, and provider specialty (general surgery vs. urology) among the cohort that underwent excision.

RESULTS

Out of a total of N.=91,560 adrenal masses, ultimately N.=3375 (3.83%) of these underwent surgical excision. In the surgical excision cohort, the incidence of aldosteronoma, functional adenoma/Cushing's disease, and adrenocortical carcinoma was higher than in the surveillance cohort. Those patients who were older, female, and with higher Charlson Comorbidity indexes (CCI) were less likely to undergo surgical resection. Factors that predicted for an increased probability of resection included obtaining more CT/MRI scans as well as general surgeons as primary physician providers. Over the study period, the vast majority of surgeries were performed by surgeons other than urologists (12.9%) and open and laparoscopic approaches dominated, with the robotic-assisted approach accounting for a minority of the surgical cases (23.9%). The minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach independently predicted for both lower rates of complications and shorter hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

In the US, adrenal incidentalomas are more likely to undergo surveillance rather than surgical resection. In our study, surgery is mainly offered for functional or malignant disease and the receipt of surgery can vary by physician specialty. A MIS approach independently predicted for both lower rates of complications and shorter hospital stay.