XXXX in the UK: findings from the zoster quality of life (ZQOL) study.

@entity1 @entity158 @entity4091 @entity1910
BACKGROUND: @entity4091 ( @entity4091 ) is a @entity158 condition that can have a substantial negative impact on @entity1 ' lives. However, UK-specific data on the debilitating impact of @entity4091 , in terms of @entity1 ' experience of @entity158 and impairments in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) are limited. The Zoster Quality of Life (ZQOL) study, a large-scale UK cross-sectional study, was conducted to quantify the burden of @entity4091 in UK @entity1 . METHODS: A total of 229 @entity4091 @entity1 aged 50 years or over were recruited from primary and secondary/tertiary care centres throughout the UK. @entity1 completed a battery of validated questionnaires, including the @entity158 Inventory (ZBPI), the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) on initial presentation to the doctor and again 7-14 days later. At follow-up @entity1 also completed the Treatment Satisfaction with Medication (TSQM) questionnaire. Where available, mean questionnaire scores in the @entity4091 population were compared to scores for age-matched norms to investigate the burden associated with @entity4091 . RESULTS: @entity158 was prominent among @entity1 , with 57.9% at the initial study visit reporting @entity158 in the preceding 24 hours at levels typically considered to have a significant impact on HRQoL (i.e. ZBPI worst @entity158 >=  5). This was reflected in SF-36 and EQ-5D scores that were significantly lower for @entity1 when compared to age-matched norms (p < 0.05) - except for the SF-36 domain of physical functioning. HRQoL was inversely associated with levels of reported @entity158 , with those @entity1 in the greatest amount of @entity158 reporting the greatest HRQoL impact. However, there was no association between @entity158 severity and @entity1 age. The majority of @entity1 (69.4%) received antivirals within 72 hours of @entity1910 appearing and 69.9% of @entity1 were also taking analgesics for the management of @entity158 . TSQM scores indicated that @entity1 were least satisfied with the effectiveness of their prescribed treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The acute presentation of @entity4091 is a @entity158 experience that can have a significant impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of sufferers. Findings highlight significant unmet need among @entity1 , particularly in terms of the effectiveness of therapies for the management of @entity4091 .
