title: Clinical, psychosocial, and central correlates of quality of life in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify sociodemographic, clinical, and central correlates of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in DM1 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 DM1 patients had assessments of muscular impairment, CTG repeats, and intelligence. Validated instruments were used to assess sociodemographic and clinical factors as well as social support, social participation, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, personality, mood, and quality of life. Regression analysis was used to identify correlates of SF-36 physical and mental component summary scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients scored lower on all SF-36 physical health subscales compared with normative data but did not differ with respect to mental health function. Regression analysis revealed that psychological distress, fatigue, severe muscular impairment, emotional stability, not having worked within the last 12 months, and lower intellectual quotient were associated with lower scores in physical health function. Moreover, neuroticism, daytime sleepiness, dissatisfaction with social participation, and lower conscientiousness were associated with lower scores in mental health function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DM1 has an impact on SF-36 physical summary scores but not on mental summary scores. Factors such as fatigue, daytime sleepiness, psychological distress, unemployment, and social participation dissatisfaction that significantly affect HRQoL in DM1 are amenable to treatment and psychosocial interventions, namely by providing care that integrate health, social, and community services.
authors.affiliation: ÉCOBES Recherche et transfert, Cégep de Jonquière, Québec, Qué., Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laberge
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auclair
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noreau
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagnon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires