BACKGROUND Unlike active tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is asymptomatic and often considered not to affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. However, being diagnosed with and treated for LTBI can be associated with adverse clinical evens such side effects of treatment as well as psychosocial challenges. Therefore, the aims of this study were to qualitatively explore patients' experiences during diagnosis and treatment of LTBI in Stockholm measure their HRQoL, and contrast and merge the results to better understand how the HRQoL of these patients is affected. METHODS LTBI patients who were treated in Stockholm during September 2017 and June 2018and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were invited to fill a survey that included a HRQoL instrument, EQ-5D-3 L, and a mental health screening instrument, RHS-15. After filling the survey, a subset of these patients was asked to participate in an interview with open-ended questions that focused on their experiences during the diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS In total 108 participants filled that survey and interviews were conducted with 20 patients. Patients scored relatively high on EQ-5D: the scores of utility and VAS scale are similar to those reported by the general population of Stockholm. Very few patients reported problems on the physical health domains of EQ-5D which was supported by the quantitative data that showed no effect on physical health and usual activity. Thirty-eight percent screened positive for RHS-15 and 27.8% reported problems with anxiety/depression domain of EQ-5D which could be related to many stressing factors mentioned in the interviews such as: fear and distress related to lack of clarity about LTBI diagnosis, perceived risk of infecting others and uncertainties about the future. CONCLUSION The quantified HRQoL of LTBI patients in Stockholm is similar to the general population and there is thus no HRQoL decrements that is detectable with EQ-5D. However, the study reinforces the importance of tackling anxiety and fear and ensuring good health information for persons diagnosed with and treated for LTBI.

中文翻译：

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潜伏性结核感染治疗患者的生活质量：瑞典斯德哥尔摩的一项混合方法研究。

背景技术与活动性肺结核不同，潜伏性结核感染（LTBI）无症状，通常被认为不会影响患者健康相关的生活质量（HRQoL）。但是，被确诊为LTBI并接受LTBI治疗可能与不良的临床症状，治疗的副作用以及社会心理挑战有关。因此，本研究的目的是定性探索斯德哥尔摩LTBI诊断和治疗期间患者的经验，以测量他们的HRQoL，并对比和合并结果以更好地了解这些患者的HRQoL如何受到影响。方法邀请2017年9月至2018年6月在斯德哥尔摩接受治疗且符合纳入标准的LTBI患者填写一项调查，其中包括HRQoL仪器，EQ-5D-3 L和心理健康筛查仪器，RHS-15。填写调查表后，要求这些患者中的一部分参加针对他们在诊断和治疗期间的经验的开放式问题的访谈。结果总共有108名参与者填写了该调查表，并对20名患者进行了访谈。患者在EQ-5D上得分较高：效用和VAS评分与斯德哥尔摩总人口所报告的相似。很少有患者报告EQ-5D的身体健康方面存在问题，这得到定量数据的支持，这些数据显示对身体健康和日常活动没有影响。38％的人筛查了RHS-15阳性，而27.8％的人报告了EQ-5D的焦虑/抑郁域问题，这可能与访谈中提到的许多压力因素有关，例如：与对LTBI诊断缺乏明确性，感染他人的已知风险以及未来的不确定性有关的恐惧和困扰。结论斯德哥尔摩地区LTBI患者的量化HRQoL与普通人群相似，因此没有EQ-5D可检测到的HRQoL降低。但是，该研究强调了解决焦虑和恐惧并确保为被确诊为LTBI并接受过LTBI治疗的患者提供良好健康信息的重要性。