title: Perception of quality of life of a cohort population years after relocation from previous low-dose radiation exposure in Co-60 contaminated buildings in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate measures of health-related quality of life in a cohort study in Taiwan to assess late health effects of protracted low-dose-rate γ-radiation exposure during 1982 to the mid-1990s.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2004, 1,407 cohort subjects were evaluated by a self-measured World Health Organisation-Brief quality of life Questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version) during an annual medical check-up in a hospital. Results of their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental domains were compared with an unexposed reference population in the same city.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposed population was shown to have significantly lower quality of life (QOL) scores in physical, psychological and social relationship domains, but not in the environmental domain compared to the unexposed population. These findings were observed in all age groups with the greatest decrease found among those younger than 25 years old. Female subjects were shown to have larger decrease than male subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 10 years after being informed of radiation exposure, the exposed populations were observed to have significantly lower perception of HRQoL even though no biomedical effects were apparent. It is recommended that appropriate intervention be carried out in the follow-up of post-event rehabilitation for the radiation exposed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, 155 Section 2 Limong Street, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pimei Nancy
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chen-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peter Wushou
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jing-Shiang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hui-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kuan-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: I-Feng
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants