Page 261 - EJMO-9-1

Eurasian Journal of
Medicine and Oncology Quality of life, somatosensory amplification, and stress in ADPKD

currently lacking in the existing literature. The elevated The lack of consideration for disease stage as a factor
somatosensory amplification observed in patients with may limit the understanding of how disease progression
PKD may be attributed to a mutual interaction. Those impacts the relationships being studied. Addressing these
who closely monitor their physical condition may perceive limitations in future research could enhance the depth
symptoms that are not present or may be more sensitive to and applicability of findings related to the quality of life,
existing symptoms. An elevated level of perceived stress, somatosensory amplification, and perceived stress in
precipitated by the anticipation of pain, also results in the patients with PKD.
intensification of bodily sensations over time. The results
of this study indicated a significant correlation between 6. Conclusion
somatosensory amplification and perceived stress levels. This study highlights that patients with ADPKD experience
A single study indicated that females experienced greater significantly higher levels of somatosensory amplification
pain and reported more significant interference with and perceived stress, along with a lower HRQOL,
their daily lives than males. The pain was independently compared to healthy individuals. The findings underscore
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associated with lower mood and an overall prevalence of the complex interplay between chronic illness and stress
clinically significant depression in PKD patients. 14 perception. However, the observed inconsistency in the
The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress has results should be acknowledged, specifically the lack of
been documented in patients with PKD. Depression was significant correlation between perceived stress (PSS)
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found to be associated with disturbances in sleep quality and HRQOL, which warrants further investigation. The
and a range of physical and mental health outcomes. It current study has explored the following sub-themes:
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was unexpected to find that women are more susceptible to (i) the impact of age and gender on HRQOL; (ii) the
the adverse effects of PKD than men in general. The study absence of a correlation between PSS and HRQOL, in
demonstrated that, regardless of gender, younger age is an the context of multiple regression; (iii) the negative effect
independent risk factor for depression in individuals with of disease duration on quality of life; (iv) the negative
PKD. This may indicate an elevated psychological burden impact of somatosensory amplification on HRQOL; and
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associated with the diagnosis of PKD, underscoring the (v) the impact of education level on these parameters.
necessity for enhanced support during the initial stages of This will prevent issues regarding inconsistencies in the
the disease. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate interpretation of findings and strengthen the clinical
this hypothesis. relevance of the study.
These results emphasize the importance of developing
5. Study limitations comprehensive patient care strategies that address not only
It is worth mentioning that the present study has some the physical but also the psychological aspects of managing
limitations. One of the primary limitations of this study PKD. Future research should focus on expanding sample sizes,
is the relatively small sample size (48 patients and 50 employing longitudinal designs, and incorporating more
healthy controls). A larger sample would enhance the diverse patient populations to confirm and build upon these
generalizability of the findings and provide more robust findings. In addition, to gain a more complete understanding
statistical power. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, of the findings and their implications, it is essential to explore
which limits the ability to draw causal inferences about the potential influence of unconsidered variables such as
the relationships among somatosensory amplification, coping mechanisms and health perception. These factors
perceived stress, and HRQOL. Longitudinal studies are could significantly impact the observed relationships between
necessary to explore these relationships over time. HRQOL, perceived stress, somatosensory amplification, and
the duration of disease in patients with PKD. Investigating
Another limitation is the heterogeneity in disease
severity. The patient group may have included individuals other health indicators, such as sleep quality and physical
with varying levels of disease severity, and without function, could provide additional insights into the overall
stratifying participants based on disease progression health status of these patients, contributing to a more holistic
understanding of the disease’s impact.
or kidney function levels, it is challenging to assess how
severity might differentially impact somatosensory Acknowledgments
amplification, perceived stress, and quality of life. In
addition, the stage of disease could have a significant None.
influence on the results, as individuals in more advanced
stages of the disease may experience different stressors and Funding
symptom awareness compared to those in earlier stages. None.

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2025) 253 doi: 10.36922/ejmo.7550