QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSESSMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC-ULCER DURING TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP

Quality of Life (QOL) has traditionally not been evaluated in patients with peptic ulcer disease. In this study, QOL was evaluated before tr eatment (day 0), during treatment (day 15), 14 days after treatment st opped (mean day 38), after 6 months and 1 year. Investigation was done by using a questionnaire which was mailed to the patient and mailed b ack within a few days. Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) was use d as a QOL base. Patients were treated with effective acid reduction. A total of 392 patients were included and the questionnaire response r ate was 95%. The general QOL score for PGWB, which initially was low, increased significantly during treatment to a maximum two weeks posttr eatment. At the six and twelve-month follow-up the scores dropped slig htly. It is concluded that QOL assessments seem useful in the evaluati on of medical regimens for peptic ulcer disease. The scores follow the clinical state, which enables future comparisons of different regimen s.