WHOQOL-bREF questionnaire as a measure of quality of life in sarcoidosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a short form of the WHOQOL questionnaire, the WHOQOL-BREF, which consists of 24 questions, in evaluating quality of life (QOL) in sarcoidosis patients. A group of 97 sarcoidosis patients and a matched group of 97 healthy controls took part in the study. Their QOL was examined by means of the WHOQOL-BREF, and the respiratory functions were measured in sarcoidosis patients. The WHOQOL-BREF revealed significantly poorer QOL of sarcoidosis patients in the domains of Physical and Psychological Health in comparison to healthy controls. In contrast, sarcoidosis patients perceived their QOL significantly better than healthy controls in the domains of Social Relations and Environment. Differences between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls were found in several items from the WHOQOL-BREF and some of them were modified by gender. However, the WHOQOL-BREF did not prove to be a sensitive measure of fatigue, which is the most common symptom in sarcoidosis patients.