Health-related quality of life in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis: Physical and mental health predictors

Jennifer A. Cronly, Alistair J. Duff, Kristin A. Riekert, Anthony P. Fitzgerald, Ivan J. Perry, Elaine A. Lehane, Aine Horgan, Barbara A. Howe, Muireann Ni Chroinin, Eileen Savage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: People with cystic fibrosis face substantial physical, psychological, and social challenges as they move into adolescence and adulthood, which are likely to impact on their health-related quality of life. This study sought to examine the relative importance of physical and mental health variables associated with health-related quality of life in this group. METHODS: Adults and adolescents (N ± 174; >14 y old) from across 11 adult or pediatric cystic fibrosis clinics in the Republic of Ireland, completed a background questionnaire that contained self-reported physical health variables, pulmonary function (ie, FEV1%) and body mass index. Questionnaire packs also contained the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised, which has been specifically designed to assess health-related quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis. RESULTS: HADS depression and/or anxiety scores were negatively associated with 11 of the 12 Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised domain scores. FEV1% was positively associated with 8 domains when controlling for HADS anxiety but only 4 domains when controlling for HADS depression. HADS anxiety and depression scores demonstrated larger effect sizes and explained a greater proportion of the variance than pulmonary function in 8 of the 12 Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised domain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health variables, depression and anxiety, were strongly associated with health-related quality of life in subjects with cystic fibrosis and demonstrated greater effect sizes and explained a higher proportion of the variance overall than the physical health indicators, FEV1% and body mass index, which high-lighted the importance of screening for, and treating, depression and anxiety symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)406-415
Number of pages10
JournalRespiratory care
Volume64
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2019

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Depression
  • Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)
  • Mental health
  • Physical health
  • Predictors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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