Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19656444›Full record

ArticleThe British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners2009

How do common chronic conditions affect health-related quality of life?

Isobel T M Heyworth, Michelle L Hazell, Mary F Linehan, Timothy L Frank

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 89 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
89citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

89 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Self management for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014
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  10. Analysing the impact of complex multimorbidity on health-related quality of life.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
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29 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Isobel T M HeyworthFaculty of Medical and Human Sciences University of Manchester, Manchester.
Michelle L Hazell
Mary F Linehan
Timothy L Frank

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComorbidity is common. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines have been created to make best use of resources to improve patients' quality of life but do not currently take account of comorbidity. The effect of multiple chronic conditions with regard to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poorly researched. Criticisms of previous research have been due to patient-defined chronic conditions, lack of quantification of the effects of confounding factors, selection of affected patients only, small sample sizes, and upper age limits.

aimThis study aims to address these issues, looking into the impact of combinations of chronic conditions on HRQoL. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Participants filled in a questionnaire containing general health information, specific respiratory questions, and the EQ-5D measure of HRQoL. The questionnaires were then matched up to their GP records to obtain their disease status for six common chronic diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease).

methodData from a mailed questionnaire were analysed from 5169 patients aged >16 years from two general practices in Wythenshawe, Manchester in 2004. Completion of the questionnaire was taken to indicate consent to participate.

resultsSignificant correlations were found between a lower HRQoL and increasing numbers of chronic conditions (P<0.001), increasing age, possible obstructive airway disease, lack of higher education, smoking, and female sex. These all remained significant following regression, except for sex, with number of chronic conditions being a strong predictor of the weighted health state index score, EQ-5D(index) (coefficient = -0.079, P<0.001).

conclusionIncreasing numbers of chronic conditions have a strong negative effect on HRQoL.

Indexed as

Quality of LifeAdolescentAdultAgedChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID19656444
PMCPMC2765853

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.