Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title
Jain S, McGory ML, Ko CY, Sverdlik A, Tomlinson JS, Wendel CS, Coons SJ, Rawl SM, Schmidt CM, Grant M, McCorkle R, Mohler MJ, Baldwin CM, Krouse RS. Comorbidities play a larger role in predicting health-related quality of life compared to having an ostomy. American journal of surgery. 2007 Dec 1; 194(6):774-9; discussion 779.
BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests an ostomy worsens health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), but comorbidities also can affect HR-QOL. METHODS: Eligible patients had abdominal operation with ostomy (cases) or similar procedure without ostomy (controls). Patients were recruited for this case-control study from 3 Veterans Affairs hospital medical and pharmacy records. Comorbidities were assessed with Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Index. Multinomial logistic regression evaluated the impact of comorbidities and having an ostomy on HR-QOL, measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 for Veterans. RESULTS: A total of 237 ostomates (cases) and 268 controls were studied. Average age was 69 years; 64% of cases had colostomy, 36% ileostomy. Twenty-nine percent of patients had a high level of comorbidities. Cases and controls were similar except for reasons for undergoing surgery. High comorbidity was a significant predictor of low HR-QOL in 6 domains of the Short Form 36 for Veterans; having an ostomy was a significant predictor in 4. CONCLUSIONS: High comorbidity significantly influences low HR-QOL and impacted more domains than having an ostomy.