title: Quality of life in patients with long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia is a benign condition characterized by the persistent elevation of serum pancreatic enzymes without morphological alterations of the pancreas. No information is available regarding the quality of life of these subjects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the physical, mental and psychological status of these subjects using SF-12 Health Survey questionnaire and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one consecutive subjects having long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia (duration: 11.0 years, range 5-21) were studied. The Italian version of the SF-12 questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire were compiled by the subjects studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the SF-12 questionnaire, the physical component scores and the mental component scores were 50.1 ± 8.0 and 44.7 ± 11.7, respectively and these figures were not statistically different from those of reference Italian population. Regarding the psychological status, seven subjects (13.7%) had non-psychotic-psychiatric problems. No statistical differences in the physical component score, mental component score and general health questionnaire were found between patients having non-familial or familial chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia had a quality of life no different from that of the Italian population. The explanation provided by the physician regarding the benignity of long-standing chronic non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia is enough to reassure this type of patient.
authors.affiliation: Pancreas Unit, Department of Digestive System, Department of Radiology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: raffaele.pezzilli@aosp.bo.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
authors.affiliation: Pancreas Unit, Department of Digestive System, Department of Radiology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brighi
authors.affiliation: Pancreas Unit, Department of Digestive System, Department of Radiology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calculli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D020799:Pancrelipase / Q000097:blood; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020799:Pancrelipase; D000681:Amylases
keywords: Amylase; General health questionnaire; Lipase; Outcomes; Quality of life; SF-12 health survey