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Health-related quality of life after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: Is uterine weight a major factor?

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Abstract

Objective

To assess uterine size, symptom severity, and hemoglobin level as determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women subsequently undergoing laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).

Methods

Sixty-one consecutive women with uterine leiomyoma or adenomyosis undergoing LAVH were studied using a prospective cohort design. The Chinese version of the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life (UFS-QOL) questionnaire was assessed preoperatively. The Taiwan brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and a self-assessment of the perceived health status were assessed preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 12 weeks, and 18 months postoperatively.

Results

Women with a greater uterine weight did not report a greater severity of symptoms than those with lower uterine weight. Women with more severe symptoms had lower preoperative hemoglobin levels and were usually younger. Their perceived health status and their scores in physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF were also significantly lower, indicating a poorer HRQOL. The mixed-effects model found that a normal (higher) baseline hemoglobin level and a greater symptom severity were associated with a significant improvement of HRQOL in the physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF following LAVH.

Conclusions

Preoperative symptom severity, but not uterine weight, was associated with long-term improvement in HRQOL after LAVH. Women with severe symptoms could be considered for LAVH before development of anemia.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant NHRI-EX94-9204PP from the National Health Research Institutes and grant NTUH095-000400 from National Taiwan University Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

    Pao-Ling Torng, Wen-Chun Chang, Wen-Chiung Hsu & Su-Cheng Huang

  2. Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jing-Shiang Hwang

  3. Institute of Occupation Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Rm. 719, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10020, Taiwan

    Jung-Der Wang & Chen-Fang Chen

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10020, Taiwan

    Jung-Der Wang & Ta-Chen Su

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  1. Pao-Ling Torng
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  2. Wen-Chun Chang
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  4. Wen-Chiung Hsu
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  8. Ta-Chen Su
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Correspondence to Jung-Der Wang or Ta-Chen Su.

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Torng, PL., Chang, WC., Hwang, JS. et al. Health-related quality of life after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: Is uterine weight a major factor?. Qual Life Res 16, 227–237 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9123-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9123-y

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