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Important news for the chronic Q-fever patients, the results of this study is: recognition of their illness.
QJM. 2010 Aug 27.
Detailed analysis of health status of Q fever patients 1 year after the first Dutch outbreak: a case-control study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The two long-term complications, after primary infection, are chronic Q fever in approximately 1% of patients, and a chronic fatigue syndrome in 10-20%. However, the existence of a protracted decreased health status after Q fever remains controversial.
AIM: To determine the health status of the patients of the Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands in 2007, 1 year after primary infection.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional case-control study.
METHODS: Health status of the patients from the 2007 Dutch Q fever outbreak was compared to age-, sex- and geographically matched and Q fever seronegative controls. Health status of both patients and controls was assessed with the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument (NCSI).
RESULTS: Fifty-four Q fever patients provided 34 years of age- and sex-matched controls from the same neighbourhood. Eleven controls had positive Q fever serology and were excluded.
Q fever patients had significantly more problems on the subdomains of symptoms and functional impairment.
Overall quality of life was decreased in both patients and controls, 59% vs. 39%, respectively, ns). Severe fatigue levels were present in 52% of patients vs. 26% in controls (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: These data support a sustained decrease in many aspects of health status in Q fever patients in The Netherlands, 1 year after primary infection.
QJM. 2010 Aug 27.
Detailed analysis of health status of Q fever patients 1 year after the first Dutch outbreak: a case-control study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The two long-term complications, after primary infection, are chronic Q fever in approximately 1% of patients, and a chronic fatigue syndrome in 10-20%. However, the existence of a protracted decreased health status after Q fever remains controversial.
AIM: To determine the health status of the patients of the Q fever outbreak in The Netherlands in 2007, 1 year after primary infection.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional case-control study.
METHODS: Health status of the patients from the 2007 Dutch Q fever outbreak was compared to age-, sex- and geographically matched and Q fever seronegative controls. Health status of both patients and controls was assessed with the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument (NCSI).
RESULTS: Fifty-four Q fever patients provided 34 years of age- and sex-matched controls from the same neighbourhood. Eleven controls had positive Q fever serology and were excluded.
Q fever patients had significantly more problems on the subdomains of symptoms and functional impairment.
Overall quality of life was decreased in both patients and controls, 59% vs. 39%, respectively, ns). Severe fatigue levels were present in 52% of patients vs. 26% in controls (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: These data support a sustained decrease in many aspects of health status in Q fever patients in The Netherlands, 1 year after primary infection.
