Health-related quality of life (HRQL) in immunodeficient adults with selective IgA deficiency compared with age- and gender-matched controls and identification of risk factors for poor HRQL.

Abstract

Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) is the most common primary immunodeficiency with a prevalence of 1/600 in the general population. Any targeted health-related quality of life (HRQL) study of adults with SIgAD has never been presented. The objectives of the study were to compare HRQL between SIgAD adults and randomly selected age- and gender-matched population controls, and to identify risk factors for poor HRQL.

Thirty-two SIgAD individuals and 63 controls answered three questionnaires (clinical data, Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), infection-related HRQL) at baseline before undergoing medical/dental examinations and laboratory assessments. HRQL in SIgAD was re-evaluated after 6 and 12 months.

Baseline: Selective IgA deficiency individuals reported significantly increased fear of contracting infections (p < 0.01). Those scoring high on fear also perceived significantly poorer physical health (p < 0.01). SF-36 results indicated that SIgAD individuals perceived poorer HRQL, although this was not statistically significant. Follow-up: Compared with SF-36 responses at baseline, SIgAD individuals reported significantly more pain (p < 0.01) at 6 months, poorer general health (p < 0.05) and summarised physical HRQL (p < 0.01) at 6 and 12 months and decreased vitality at 12 months. The summarised mental scale remained stable over time. Risk factors for poor HRQL: The number of antibiotic treatments during the previous year (p < 0.001), number of daily medications (p < 0.01), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (p < 0.05), chronic musculoskeletal symptoms at least every week (p < 0.05) and anxiety and/or insomnia (p < 0.05) were identified as independent risk factors for poor HRQL.

The study highlights the importance of identifying and thoroughly evaluating, educating and following up individuals with SIgAD, as their HRQL may be negatively affected due to health problems possible to prevent and treat.