Relative to the general US population, chronic diseases are associated with poorer health-related quality of life as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).
OBJECTIVE
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) allows assessment of the impact of chronic conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQL) across diseases. We report on the HRQL impact of individual and comorbid conditions as well as conditions that are described as limiting activity.


METHODS
Data were collected through online and clinic recruitment as part of the PROMIS item calibration sample (n=21,133). Participants reported the presence or absence of 24 chronic health conditions and whether their activity was limited by each condition.


RESULTS
Across health status domains, the presence of a chronic condition was associated with poorer scores than those without a diagnosis, particularly for those individuals who reported that their condition was disabling. The magnitude of detriment in HRQL was more pronounced for individuals with two or more chronic conditions and could not be explained by sociodemographic factors. Patterns of HRQL deficits varied across disease and comorbidity status.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of chronic conditions, particularly when experienced with comorbid disease, is associated with detriments in HRQL. The negative impact on HRQL varies across symptoms and functional areas within a given condition.
Rothrock
Nan E
NE
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, 625N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA. n-rothrock@northwestern.edu
Hays
Ron D
RD
Spritzer
Karen
K
Yount
Susan E
SE
Riley
William
W
Cella
David
D
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology