METHODS: The cross sectional study was conducted from June to September 2011 at three public tertiary hospitals with the EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire in addition to face to face interview and review of medical records of 100 respondents.
RESULTS: The mean age was 57.3 (SD 11.9) years with 56.0% are males and 44.0% females, 62% of Malay ethnicity, 30% Chinese, 7% Indian and 1% Sikh. Majority were educated up to secondary level (42%) and 90% respondents had CRC stages III and IV. Mean global health status (GHS) score was 79.1 (SD 21.4). Mean scores for functional status (physical, emotional, role, cognitive, social) rangeds between 79.5 (SD 26.6) to 92.2 (SD 13.7). Mean symptom scores (fatigue, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, dyspnoea, loss of appetite) ranged between 4.00 (SD 8.58) to 20.7 (SD 30.6). Respondents role function significantly deteriorates with increasing stage of the disease (p=0.044). Females had worse symptoms of pain (p=0.022), fatigue (p=0.031) and dyspnoea (p=0.031). Mean insomnia (p=0.006) and diarrhea (p=0.024) demonstrated significant differences between age groups.
CONCLUSION: QOL in CRC patients in this study was comparable to that in other studies done in developed countries. Pain, fatigue and dyspnoea are worse among female CRC patients. Given that functions deteriorates with advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis, a systematic screening programme to detect cases as early as possible is essential nationwide.
DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized, observer-masked, crossover parallel comparison trial.
METHODS: Forty-one patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on nonfixed combination of latanoprost and timolol with IOP of 21 mm Hg or less were randomized to either bimatoprost-timolol or travoprost-timolol fixed combinations for 8-week treatment period. Intraocular pressure was measured at 8 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, and 8 PM at the baseline and at the end point. Conjunctiva hyperemia and superficial punctate keratopathy after treatment with each fixed combination therapy were assessed and compared with the baseline. Patients were then switched to the opposite drug without a medication-free period for another 8-week, and diurnal IOP measurement was repeated.
RESULTS: Bimatoprost-timolol fixed combination reduced the baseline mean diurnal IOP statistically significantly from 17.3 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.8-17.7 mm Hg] to 16.4 mm Hg (95% CI, 15.9-17.0 mm Hg) (P = 0.036). Travoprost-timolol fixed combination lowered the mean diurnal IOP to 17.1 mm Hg (95% CI, 16.5-17.7 mm Hg), but it was not significant. Direct comparison between the 2 fixed combinations showed no significant difference. Both fixed combinations had no significant effect on conjunctiva hyperemia. Interestingly, patients on travoprost-timolol fixed combination had significantly less superficial punctuate keratopathy (P = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS: Both fixed combination of bimatoprost-timolol and travoprost-timolol had no significantly different ocular hypotensive effect. However, bimatoprost-timolol fixed combination produced additional IOP lowering in patients previously treated with nonfixed combination of latanoprost and timolol.