| [ Summary ] |
Overall quality of life is defined by general health perceptions, which are based on the functional and symptom status, defined by biological and physiological variables. Factors defining QOL in ulcerative colitis, from the viewpoint of disease states, are composed of not only general disease factors such as disease patterns, disease activity, clinical severity, clinical course, intractability, intestinal and extraintestinai complications, and post-intestinal resection states, but also eight functional items defined in SF36, such as physical role functioning, social functioning, physical functioniug, general mental functioning, cognitive functioning, pain, vitality, and general health perceptions. IBDQ is used to evaluate disease-specific QOL. Disease acitivity is not always a predictor of patient well being. Considering three factors jointly sucll as lBDQ measures, disease activity measures, and phychosocial functioning measures may be able to provide disease-specific QOL. |