{"paper_id":"d60c1142-a771-413b-a44d-0eb7a4b06cce","body_text":"Abstract\nObjective\nTo assess uterine size, symptom severity, and hemoglobin level as determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women subsequently undergoing laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).\nMethods\nSixty-one consecutive women with uterine leiomyoma or adenomyosis undergoing LAVH were studied using a prospective cohort design. The Chinese version of the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life (UFS-QOL) questionnaire was assessed preoperatively. The Taiwan brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and a self-assessment of the perceived health status were assessed preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 12 weeks, and 18 months postoperatively.\nResults\nWomen with a greater uterine weight did not report a greater severity of symptoms than those with lower uterine weight. Women with more severe symptoms had lower preoperative hemoglobin levels and were usually younger. Their perceived health status and their scores in physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF were also significantly lower, indicating a poorer HRQOL. The mixed-effects model found that a normal (higher) baseline hemoglobin level and a greater symptom severity were associated with a significant improvement of HRQOL in the physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF following LAVH.\nConclusions\nPreoperative symptom severity, but not uterine weight, was associated with long-term improvement in HRQOL after LAVH. Women with severe symptoms could be considered for LAVH before development of anemia.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nNezhat F, Nezhat C, Gordans S, Wilkins F (1992) Laparoscopic versus abdominal hysterectomy. J Report Med 37: 247–250\nOlsson J, Ellstrom M, Hahlin M (1996) A randomized prospective trial comparing laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy. 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Am J Kidney Dis 44: 1017–1023\nAcknowledgements\nThis work was supported by grant NHRI-EX94-9204PP from the National Health Research Institutes and grant NTUH095-000400 from National Taiwan University Hospital.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding authors\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nTorng, PL., Chang, WC., Hwang, JS. et al. Health-related quality of life after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: Is uterine weight a major factor?. Qual Life Res 16, 227–237 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9123-y\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9123-y","source_license":"public-domain-us","license_restricted":false}