Measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia.

In up to 80% of dyspepsia patients who consult a physician in the hospital, dyspepsia is considered to be functional dyspepsia. Although not associated with increased mortality, functional dyspepsia is a burden at both the community and national levels because it can cause physical, mental, and social distress that can affect a patient's quality of life. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a multidimensional construct comprising at least three broad domains-physical, psychological, and social functioning-which can all be affected by a disease and its treatment. It is important to assess HRQOL in patients with functional dyspepsia to identify the effects of the disease and its treatment on patients. Both disease-specific and generic instruments can be used to assess HRQOL in patients with functional dyspepsia. Each instrument has its own advantages and limitations. The selection of instrument to assess HRQOL is determined by the study population, research questions, disease entities, and researcher preferences. The purpose of this article is to explain the concept of HRQOL and the use of HRQOL assessment in patients with functional dyspepsia.