Koch Hèlene, van Bokhoven Marloes A, ter Riet Gerben, van der Weijden Trudy, Dinant Geert Jan, Bindels Patrick J E
Department of General Practice, Division of Clinical Methods and Public Health, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Qual Life Res. 2007 Nov;16(9):1483-9. doi: 10.1007/s11136-007-9252-y.
About 13% of GPs' consultations involve unexplained complaints (UCs). These complaints can progress to chronic conditions like medically unexplained symptoms, chronic functional symptoms or somatoform disorders. Little is known about the demographic characteristics and quality of life of patients with early stage UCs. Our study objective was to describe these characteristics. Additionally we compared them with other patient groups to serve as a frame of reference.
Descriptive study in general practices. Patients with early stage UCs who had not had elaborate diagnostic investigations were included. Demographic characteristics were compared to a Dutch general practice population. Quality of life scores were measured with the RAND-36 and compared to another Dutch general practice population and to depressed patients.
Data of 466 patients were available for analysis. Mean age was 44 years and 74% were females, mostly higher educated. Of the patients, 63% presented with unexplained fatigue. On average, quality of life was poor (mean RAND-36 domain scores 37-73), also in comparison with other groups.
General practice patients presenting with UCs have a remarkably poor quality of life. Future research should explore how early identification of patients at risk of developing chronicity can take place. Awareness of potential poor quality of life may influence GPs' medical decision making.
约13%的全科医生诊疗涉及不明原因的主诉（UCs）。这些主诉可能会发展为慢性疾病，如医学上无法解释的症状、慢性功能性症状或躯体形式障碍。对于早期UCs患者的人口统计学特征和生活质量知之甚少。我们的研究目的是描述这些特征。此外，我们将他们与其他患者群体进行比较，以作为参考框架。
在全科医疗中进行描述性研究。纳入未进行详细诊断检查的早期UCs患者。将人口统计学特征与荷兰全科医疗人群进行比较。使用RAND-36量表测量生活质量得分，并与另一个荷兰全科医疗人群和抑郁症患者进行比较。
466例患者的数据可供分析。平均年龄为44岁，74%为女性，大多受教育程度较高。其中63%的患者表现为不明原因的疲劳。平均而言，生活质量较差（RAND-36量表各领域平均得分37 - 73），与其他组相比也是如此。
表现为UCs的全科医疗患者生活质量显著较差。未来的研究应探索如何尽早识别有发展为慢性病风险的患者。意识到潜在的较差生活质量可能会影响全科医生的医疗决策。
