title: Health-related quality of life in Cystic Fibrosis patients infected with transmissible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains: cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients of chronic infection with the Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Psa).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult CF patients attending a single CF centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQoL measures of adult CF patients chronically infected with LES and Psa strains measured by CFQ-UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients infected by transmissible Psa strains had worse physical functioning, respiratory symptoms, treatment burden, vitality, role, health perception and emotion than those with unique Psa strains (P < 0.01), and significantly poorer physical functioning, respiratory symptoms, treatment burden, body image, weight, role, and emotion than those without any Psa infection (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in a matched cohort of 39 patients, those with LES infection reported significantly worse physical functioning, treatment burden, respiratory symptoms and health perception than those with unique Psa infection (P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic infection with transmissible Psa strains, particularly LES, confers a worse quality of life in adult CF patients. Coupled with the established poorer clinical outcome, this reinforces the need to prevent the spread of such strains in CF community.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital ,  Thomas Drive, Liverpool L14 3PE ,  UK.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashish
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McShane
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ledson
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walshaw