We evaluated the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy used as a supplement to the first-line medical treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We tested 68 patients suffering from SSNHL within seven days of hearing loss: 21 patients received the standard treatment protocol of our department (control group) and 47 individuals were treated with an additional application of HBO2 therapy. Treatment success was assessed using pre- and post-treatment audiograms. Outcomes of our study showed a statistically significant improvement in auditory threshold in all frequency groups for the HBO2 group (P < 0.001), whereas in the control group the statistically significant mean auditory gain was observed only for the frequency zone 1,000 to 2,000 Hertz (P = 0.01). Furthermore, the rate of hearing gain in the HBO2 group was more than doubled (61.7%) compared to the control group (28.6%). Complete recovery of the hearing gain in the control group was observed only in the first two frequency groups (14.29%; 4.76%; 0.00%), whereas in the HBO2 group complete recovery was seen in all the frequency groups (19.15%; 21.13%; 6.38%) as well as in the whole frequency range (6.38%). The efficiency of both treatment protocols was statistically significant (P < 0.001) in both groups of patients, but supplementation of the therapy with HBO2 demonstrated a statistically significantly increase in the effect of pharmacotherapy (P < 0.001) by 11.5 decibels (dB) up to the final hearing gain of 20 dB. HBO2 is therefore a promising modality of SSNHL treatment, but specific mechanisms of HBO2 in patients with SSNHL arestill unknown. Further investigations are warranted to explore the mechanisms of action.

The aim of this paper was to find out the association of relevant factors on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among ovarian cancer patients and their ability to work. Analyzed data were prospectively collected on 123 ovarian cancer patients enrolled across multiple oncology practices in Slovakia. We examined knowledge about the disease, negative perceptions related to health care, ability to work and social and economic ranking. HRQOL measurements included quality of life based on a numeric scale (1-worst, 10-best) and selected aspects from QoL-Ov28 questionnaire. We have used non-parametric Friedman and Dunne pairwise comparison tests to detect differences in HRQOL and the ability to work. Spearman correlation was used to measure the strength of association between variables. With hindsight, patients identified first signs of disease 3.6 months prior to diagnosis, with median duration of disease being 3.1 years. HRQOL was significantly different at various points during cancer journey; between current state and at diagnosis (4.19), between current state and at time without cancer or at time in full health (8.94, 9.52 respectively). Similarly, significant differences were noted in patients' current work ability (WA) compared to WA at diagnosis, or at time without cancer or in full health (4.2, 9.07, 9.58). The highest correlation of HRQOL was found in relation to current ability to work (r = 0.87) and in impact of cancer treatment (r = 0.66). Medium correlation was noted with visits to oncology clinics, knowledge about cancer, salary, future expectations or perceived quality of life of relatives (r < 0.51). Low correlation (r < 0.3) was found with other aspects related to healthcare (nursing care, general practitioner appointments) or demographics (age, number of children) and others. Patients were willing to pay monthly for curative treatment €191.84 from an average monthly salary €470.84 (41%). Ovarian cancer diagnosis has a significant impact on HRQOL and WA and both are positively highly correlated. Ovarian cancer patients are willing to give significant share of their monthly salary for treatment leading to cure.

We compared the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy used in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) as a supplementary therapy to the first-line medical treatment according to the different applied pressures used in HBO2 treatment while maintaining the same number of sessions, periodicity and exposure times. We evaluated data from 115 patients suffering from SSNHL within seven days of hearing loss: 35 patients received the standard treatment protocol (control group), and 80 individuals were treated with additional application of HBO2 therapy pressured to 2.0 ATA (H2.0; n=49) or 2.5 ATA (H2.5; n=31), respectively. Treatment success was assessed using pre- and post-treatment audiograms. We found significant differences in both HBO2 groups compared to the control group. In low frequencies the most significant differences can be seen in both H2.0 and H2.5. In spoken speech frequencies only the H2.0 group was statistically significant. In high frequencies the therapeutic benefits were the lowest. Furthermore, we found a notable difference in the therapeutic effect of HBO2 therapy according to the different applied pressure. At low frequencies, the use of 2.5 ATA pressure was more efficient. However, in the higher frequency ranges, the better hearing gains were obtained at the 2.0 ATA pressure. Our results support the possibility of optimizing treatments individually, depending on the type and frequency range of hearing impairment (shape of the audiogram) in favor of using the 2.0 ATA. This is important in terms of an individual approach to each patient as well as to minimize the burden of a patient in order to obtain the maximum therapeutic effect.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine anti-coagulant treatment patterns and stroke-and bleeding-related risk factors and to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. MethOds: This multicenter (12-centers), observational study included ≥ 18 year-old patients (n= 213) diagnosed with NVAF. CHADS 2 , CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc, HAS-BLED scores and EQ-5D scale were used to assess risk factors and QoL and clinical features were recorded at baseline, and 6 th and 12 th months. Results: The rate of adverse events was 64.7%, major bleeding was 10.8%, stroke was 5.9%, and hospitalization was 25.5% in one-year follow-up. The patients' treatment patterns were grouped as warfarin, new oral anti-coagulant (NOAC) (dabigatran, rivaroxaban), and antiplatelet agents (AA) (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel). Patient numbers for the groups at baseline, and 6 th and 12 th months, respectively, were 92, 74, 41 for warfarin, 2, 13, 14 for NOAC, and 39, 29, 26 for AA. The distribution of patients in the warfarin, NOAC, and AA groups regarding CHADS 2 ≥ 2 was 53.8% (n= 49), 50% (n= 1), and 63.2% (n= 24), respectively; regarding CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc≥ 2 was 86.8% (n= 79), 50% (n= 1), and 89.5% (n= 34), respectively; and regarding HAS-BLED≥ 3 (high bleeding risk) was 23.1% (n= 21), 0% (n= 0), and 18.4% (n= 7), respectively. EQ-5D scale scores were 0.85±0.12 and 0.76±0.13 at baseline and 0.67±0.29 and 0.62±0.37 at 12 th month for the warfarin and AA groups, respectively; the decrease was significant in the warfarin group (p= 0.002) but not in the AA group (p= 0.249). The mortality rates of the patients in the warfarin, NOAC, and AA groups in one-year follow-up were 7.6%, 0.0%, and 10.3%, respectively. cOnclusiOns: Our study has demonstrated that a significant number of patients who should be on oral anticoagulants are still treated with AA and the negative effects of warfarin on QoL of NVAF patients as compared to AA. More data is needed with head-to-head comparison of warfarin and NOAC.

Objectives: It is estimated that 30% of psoriasis (PSO) patients also develops psoriatic arthritis (PSA). This potential disease evolution brings along new symptoms such as swollen and painful joints and mobility problems. Since both diseases are potentially degenerative, the aim of this study was to measure which group of patients (PSO or PSA) is willing to pay most out of pocket to avoid their health related quality of life (HRQoL) to worsen. MethOds: 395 US patients diagnosed with either psoriasis (n= 151) or psoriatic arthritis (n= 247) completed a questionnaire as part of a broader survey of treatment of PSO/PSA. The questionnaire included the EQ-5D-5L instrument and accompanying VAS. Patients were additionally asked to indicate by reference to the EQ-5D VAS scale the amount of money per month they would be willing to pay for treatments that would prevent a decline in HRQoL by 10 points. Price sensitivity curves were created by means of linear regression analysis that predict the proportion of patients willing to pay a certain amount of $ out of pocket per month. Results: For both PSO (R² = 0,82) and PSA (R² = 0,86) monthly cost out of pocket (x-variable) was a good predictor of the proportion of patients that is willing to pay a certain amount out of pocket per month (y-variable). Regression models look as follows. For PSO: y = 0,77e -0,005x for PSA: y = 0,86e -0,007x . To give a specific example 42% of the PSA patients is willing to pay $100 per month out of pocket whereas this is 47% among PSO patients. cOnclusiOns: PSO patients are prepared to pay more out of pocket on a monthly basis to avoid their HRQoL to worsen than PSA patients. Further research is required to understand what drives this difference. PMS83Objectives: To report the long-term effect of certolizumab pegol (CZP) on workplace and household productivity up to 96 weeks (wks) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including ankylosing spondylitis (AS, meeting modified New York criteria) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA). MethOds: The ongoing RAPID-axSpA trial (NCT01087762), is double-blind and PBO-controlled to Wk24, dose-blind to Wk48 and open-label to Wk204. Patients had active axSpA, according to ASAS criteria, including AS and nr-axSpA patients. Patients originally randomized to CZP (200mg Q2W or 400mg Q4W, following 400mg loading dose [LD] at Wks 0, 2, 4) continued on their assigned dose in the OLE; PBO patients entering dose-blind phase were re-randomized to CZP LD followed by CZP 200mg Q2W or CZP 400mg Q4W after Wk24 or, for non-responders, after Wk16. The validated arthritis-specific Work Productivity Survey (WPS; administered Q4W) assessed the impact of axSpA on workplace and household productivity. WPS responses (LOCF imputation) in patients originally randomized to CZP are summarized descriptively over 96 wks. Results: 325 patients were randomized, of whom 218 received CZP (200mg Q2W or 400mg Q4W) from Wk0. Of patients randomized to CZP at baseline (BL), 93% completed Wk24, 88% Wk48 and 80% Wk96. At BL, 72% of CZP...