Arzija Pašalić

Correlation Between Quality of Life and Depression Among Persons Suffering from Psoriasis

Introduction: Chronic dermatitis is a major sociomedical issue still being marginalized due to generally accepted view that skin diseases are less of a health problem than is the case with diseases of other organs and organ systems for they are not life-threatening. Measurement of quality of life of persons suffering from psoriasis could become an important factor in assessing the success of treatment and modern aspect of integration of the diseased into the planning of therapeutic procedures, monitoring of their outcomes and improving the quality of treatment. Aim: To determine the quality of life and the degree of depression of persons with psoriasis, as well as to make a correlation between the two. Patients and methods: A descriptive and analytical study of cross-sectional character has been performed. The sample consisted of N = 56 respondents with medically verified diagnosis of psoriasis that was treated at the Clinic for Skin and Venereal Diseases of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo. Criteria for involvement of participants: respondents are to be over 18 years of age with verified medical diagnosis of psoriasis, and to voluntarily consent for inclusion in the research. The research instruments consisted of standardized questionnaires: the WHO-BREF Quality Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Median value of scores relating to quality of life of persons with psoriasis from our sample was highest in the domain of social interaction and amounted to 72 (51.50-81.00); the domain of physical health was 63 (39.50-75.00); the psychological condition was 63 (44.00-75.00); and the environmental domain was 63 (44.00-73.50). Depression of persons with psoriasis showed correlation with domains of quality of life. The depression proved correlated with the respondents’: physical health (rho = -0.793 p = 0.0001); psychological health (rho = -0.842 p = 0.0001); social interactions (rho = -0.598 p = 0.0001); as well as with attitude towards the environment (rho = -0.709 p = 0.0001). Gender, age, education, marital or employment status did not prove statistically significant for influencing occurrence of the depression. Conclusion: Given that median scores of all four domains of the quality of life of persons suffering from psoriasis were in the higher half of classification scale, the quality of their life can be considered as satisfactory. The degree of depression and the domain of quality of life are in negative correlation with psoriasis.

Influenza vaccination dilemmas

Influenza is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the world, annually causing over one million of deaths. It is triggered by one of the types of influenza viruses (A, B or C). Most usually, it assumes the form of epidemic disease, sometimes it is a pandemic, and is very rare as a sporadic disease. In temperate zones, the influenza occurs seasonally - during the cold months of a year. In tropics, however, it occurs throughout the year, though the highest number of patients is registered during the rainy seasons. Influenza is a mild disease for young and healthy persons; however, if affecting those with a weakened immune system, it can lead to complications and even to death. The only effective preventive measure is vaccination, which precludes the disease. So far, no consensus is reached on whether the vaccination should be compulsory or recommended and who should be vaccinated. In most European countries, vaccination is recommended for certain categories of the population, while the United States recommend it to the entire population above six months of age.