title: Quality of life of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: from adolescence to young men.
abstract: This study investigated quality of life (QOL) in adolescent and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
  
  
  
  Health-related QOL and global QOL were assessed with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Associations between functional status and QOL were assessed.
  
  
  
  All domains of the SF-36 were below Taiwan norms (effect size: -14.2 to -0.5), especially Physical Function, Role Physical, and Social Function. Three of the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF were below Taiwan norms (effect size: -2.0 to -0.7). The Physical Function of the SF-36 was moderately correlated with functional status (mobility, basic activities of daily living, and arm function). The Social Function of the SF-36 and Social Relationships of the WHOQOL-BREF were also moderately correlated with functional status (impairment, basic activities of daily living, and arm function).
  
  
  
  The adolescent and young men with DMD had poor health-related and global QOL. Poor QOL was related to both physical condition and social health. We suggest that rehabilitation programs focus on using assistive devices to facilitate arm function and encouraging participation in social activities to improve the QOL of patients with DMD. Implications for rehabilitation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle weakness disease that not only impacts physical health but also leads to poor quality of life in many domains. A valuable rehabilitation goal for patients with DMD is to encourage participation in social activities. Medical care and educational programs should plan a formal transition processes for patients with DMD from pediatric to adult care to maximum their quality of life. Arm function is associated with many domains of global quality of life, so a key element in improving quality of life may be to improve arm function.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.|b Department of Rehabilitation , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology , Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Kaohsiung County , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shun-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.|e Department of Orthopaedics , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Mou
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; World Health Organization; quality of life; short form 36