Evaluation of patient-reported outcome in subjects treated medically for acute pancreatitis: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the quality of life in patients treated medically during the acute phase of pancreatitis as well as at 2 and 12 months after discharge from the hospital.


METHODS
40 patients were studied. The etiology of the pancreatitis was biliary causes in 31 patients and non-biliary causes in 9; mild disease was present in 29 patients and severe disease in 11. 30 patients completed the two surveys at 2 and 12 months after hospital discharge.


METHODS
The SF-12 and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires were used for the purpose of the study.


RESULTS
The two physical and mental component summaries of SF-12, all the domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 (except for physical functioning and cognitive functioning) and some symptom scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, and constipation) were significantly impaired during the acute phase of pancreatitis. There was a significant improvement in the SF-12 physical component summary, and global health, role functioning, social functioning, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, and financial difficulties (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 2 months after discharge as compared to the basal evaluation. Similar results were found after 12 months except for the mental component score at 12-month evaluation, which was significantly impaired in acute pancreatitis patients in comparison to the norms. The physical functioning of the EORTC QLQ-C30 at basal evaluation was significantly impaired in patients with severe pancreatitis in comparison to patients with mild pancreatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Two different patterns can be recognized in the quality of life of patients with acute pancreatitis: physical impairment is immediately present followed by mental impairment which appears progressively in the follow-up period.
Pezzilli
R
R
Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Morselli-Labate
A M
AM
Campana
D
D
Casadei
R
R
Brocchi
E
E
Corinaldesi
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires