title: Impairment of gastrointestinal quality of life in severely obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the common gastro-intestinal symptoms and quality of life in severely obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively recruited 340 severely obese patients [mean age 30.5 ± 7.8 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 42.9 ± 6.1 kg/m(2)] and 340 healthy persons (mean BMI 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m(2)) matched in sex, age, marriage and education. The quality of life was studied using a specific gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) questionnaire. The 36 items and four functional domains of the GIQLI were compared and analyzed between the groups. The possible correlation of GIQLI scores with specific clinical variables in severely obese patients was assessed by measuring Pearson's coefficient of correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GIQLI score of severely obese patients was lower than the normal control group (108.5 ± 17.1 vs 123.2 ± 14.8, P < 0.01). Severely obese patients had decreased scores in the domains of general health, including physical (17.3 ± 6.0 vs 22.4 ± 3.1, P < 0.01), emotional (12.6 ± 4.3 vs 16.6 ± 3.1, P < 0.01) and social function (14.7 ± 3.9 vs 17.9 ± 2.5, P < 0.01), and in the domain of gastrointestinal symptoms (63.9 ± 6.7 vs 66.3 ± 7.2, P < 0.05). A significantly decreased score was found in nine items, and there was an increased score in one out of the 19 items in the domain of symptoms of the GIQLI questionnaire. The decreased score in the domain of symptoms was correlated with increasing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe obesity resulted in a significant impairment of the quality of life and caused specific gastrointestinal symptoms compared with normal controls. The development of gastrointestinal symptoms is correlated increasing HbA1c, suggesting that a poor control of hyperglycemia might be the etiology.
authors.affiliation: Po-Jui Yu, Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Jui
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Po-Jui Yu, Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ju-Juin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.affiliation: Po-Jui Yu, Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Jei
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Po-Jui Yu, Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Ting
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Po-Jui Yu, Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Gastro-intestinal symptoms; Glycosylated hemoglobin; Quality of life; Severe obesity