title: Dysphagia and health-related quality of life in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis: a long-term follow-up.
abstract: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune/antigen-mediated disease, with dysphagia as the main symptom. The aim of this study was to survey symptoms and health-related quality of life in adult patients with EoE at least 1 year after diagnosis and a 2-month course of topical corticosteroids. Forty-seven consecutive patients [79 % males, mean age 49 years (range 18-90 years)] were evaluated using three different questionnaires at three different occasions: the Watson Dysphagia Scale (WDS), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Oesophageal Module 18 (EORTC QLQ-OES18) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The median time from diagnosis to the long-term follow-up was 23 months (range 12-34 months). The WDS scores and the EORTC QLQ-OES18 Dysphagia and Eating scale scores were improved after 2 months of treatment (p = 0.00007, p = 0.01, p = 0.004, respectively), as were the long-term follow-up scores (p = 0.01, p = 0.03, p = 0.005, respectively), relative to the scores at diagnosis. In addition, the EORTC QLQ-OES18 Choking scores were improved after the steroid course (p = 0.003) but not after the long-term follow-up. No significant differences were detected with respect to the SF-36 scores. In summary, EoE seems to be associated with a substantial burden of symptoms that improve significantly after treatment. A partial remission persists more than 1 year after diagnosis and the discontinuation of medication. The WDS and the EORTC QLQ-OES18 appear to be sensitive instruments appropriate for surveillance in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, NAL Medical Centre, 46185, Trollhättan, Sweden. helen.m.larsson@vgregion.se.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, NAL Medical Centre, 46185, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT/H&N Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finizia
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Skövde County Hospital, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, NAL Medical Centre, 46185, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT/H&N Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergquist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dysphagia; Eosinophilic esophagitis; Follow-up; Quality of life; Questionnaires