Comorbidities play a larger role in predicting health-related quality of life compared to having an ostomy.
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.
Jain
Sushma
S
Center for Surgical Outcomes and Quality, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. sjain@mednet.ucla.edu
McGory
Marcia L
ML
Ko
Clifford Y
CY
Sverdlik
Alla
A
Tomlinson
James S
JS
Wendel
Christopher S
CS
Coons
Stephen Joel
SJ
Rawl
Susan M
SM
Schmidt
C Max
CM
Grant
Marcia
M
McCorkle
Ruth
R
Mohler
M Jane
MJ
Baldwin
Carol M
CM
Krouse
Robert S
RS
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003125:Colostomy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010030:Ostomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors