Health-related quality of life of subjects with Barrett's esophagus in a Chinese population

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of a Chinese population with Barrett's esophagus (BE). METHODS: Data from subjects with BE from a single hospital were prospectively collected from October 2012 to December 2014. The exclusion criteria included total esophagectomy, severe cardiopulmonary deficiency, malignancy, or other unsuitable conditions for scope. All the enrolled cases were asked to complete the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ), the short form-12, (SF-12), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: In total, 139 subjects were enrolled, and the mean age of the cases was 61.85 years old. Most subjects had short-segment BE (SSBE) (92.8%) and non-dysplastic BE tissue (94.2%). The mean physical and mental composite scores, PCS and MCS, of SF-12 were 44.14 and 45.53, respectively. The SF-12 scores in BE individuals were similar in men and women, elderly and non-elderly, LSBE and SSBE, coexisting EE and no-EE, and dysplastic and non-dysplastic. The appearance of reflux symptoms tended to decrease SF-12 scores in affected individuals, especially heartburn. The rates of anxiety and depression accounted for 25.2% and 17.3% of these cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study found HRQoL in BE patients was strongly associated with presentation of reflux symptoms.