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Quality of life in patients with depression, panic syndrome, other anxiety syndrome, alcoholism and chronic somatic diseases: a longitudinal study in Slovenian primary care patients

Die Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit Depressionen, Panik und anderen Angst-Syndromen, Alkoholismus sowie mit chronischen somatischen Erkrankungen: eine Längsschnittstudie unter slowenischen Patienten in der Primärversorgung

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Summary

Aim

To analyse the correlates between the quality of life and chronic diseases and socio-demographic characteristics of patients in family medicine with a special emphasis on depression, panic syndrome, other anxiety syndrome and alcoholism.

Methods

In a longitudinal study, the data set of 516 family practice attendees recruited from 60 family practices was analysed. Depression, panic syndrome, other anxiety syndrome and alcoholism were diagnosed using appropriate diagnostic interviews. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire, measuring a mental health score and a physical health score. Data about the number of chronic somatic diseases were obtained from the patients’ medical records.

Results

Physical health score was negatively associated with higher age (β = − 0.25, p < 0.001), depression (β = − 0.20, p < 0.001) and number of chronic somatic diseases (β = −0.10, p < 0.016) and positively associated with higher education level (β = 0.21, p  < 0.001), single marital status (β = 0.09, p < 0.022) and better financial status (β = 0.14, p < 0.001). Linear regression explained 31.8 % of the variance (R 2 = 0.318; p < 0.001). Similarly, mental health score was negatively associated with depression (β = − 0.45, p < 0.001) and panic syndrome (β = − 0.07, p < 0.001) and positively associated with male gender (β = 0.10, p < 0.015) and better financial status (β = 0.13, p < 0.001). Linear regression explained 45.5 % of the variance (R 2 = 0.455; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In family medicine, special attention should be directed to major depression, panic syndrome and number of chronic somatic diseases as they are associated with poorer quality of life.

Zusammenfassung

Zielsetzung

Korrelationsanalyse zwischen der Lebensqualität einerseits und chronischen Krankheiten sowie sozio-demographischen Charakteristika andererseits von Patienten in der Allgemeinmedizin mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf Depressionen, Panik und anderen Angst-Syndrome sowie Alkoholismus.

Methodik

In einer Längsschnittstudie wurden die Daten von 516 Patienten aus 60 allgemeinmedizinischer Praxen analysiert. Depressionen, Panik- und andere Angst-Syndrome sowie Alkoholismus wurden durch Interviews diagnostiziert. Die Lebensqualität wurde anhand eines SF-12 Fragebogens erfasst, der die psychische und physische Gesundheit misst. Die Daten über die Zahl chronischer somatischer Erkrankungen wurden den entsprechenden Patientenkarteien entnommen.

Ergebnisse

Die physische Gesundheit wurde negativ mit dem Alter (β = − 0,25; p < 0,001), Depressionen (β = − 0,20; p < 0,001) und der Anzahl chronischer somatischer Erkrankungen (β = −0,10; p < 0,016) assoziiert und positiv mit einem höheren Ausbildungsniveau (β = 0,21; p < 0,001), einem ledigen Familienstand (β = 0,09; p < 0,022) und einem besseren finanziellen Status (β − 0,45; p < 0,001) assoziiert. Die lineare Regression erklärte 31,8 % der Varianz (R 2 = 0,318; p < 0,001). Ebenso wurde die psychischen Gesundheit negativ mit Depressionen (β = − 0,45; p < 0,001) und Panik-Syndromen (β = − 0,07; p < 0,001) assoziiert und positiv mit dem männlichen Geschlecht (β = 0,10; p < 0,015) und einem besseren finanziellen Status (β = 0,13; p < 0,001) assoziiert. Die lineare Regression erklärte 45,5 % der Varianz (R 2 = 0,455; p < 0,001).

Schlussfolgerungen

Besondere Aufmerksamkeit sollte in der Allgemeinmedizin Depressionen, Panik-Syndromen und der Zahl von chronischen somatischen Erkrankungen gewidmet werden, da diese mit einer schlechteren Lebensqualität assoziiert werden.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Alojz Tapajner, who contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Poljanski nasip 58, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Anja Cerne MD, Janez Rifel MD, Igor Svab PhD, Polona Selic PhD & Janko Kersnik PhD

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  1. Anja Cerne MD
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  2. Janez Rifel MD
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  3. Danica Rotar-Pavlic PhD
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Correspondence to Anja Cerne MD.

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Cerne, A., Rifel, J., Rotar-Pavlic, D. et al. Quality of life in patients with depression, panic syndrome, other anxiety syndrome, alcoholism and chronic somatic diseases: a longitudinal study in Slovenian primary care patients. Wien Klin Wochenschr 125, 1–7 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0278-y

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