To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), tobacco, and alcohol consumption in individuals affected by Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and carriers in Sweden, highlighting the significance of these factors.
Key Findings:
No significant difference in HRQoL between LHON affected/carriers and healthy controls, indicating a need for further investigation into the factors influencing HRQoL.
Affected males had lower scores for role limitation due to physical health compared to affected females, suggesting gender differences in impact.
Higher prevalence of smoking (20%) and snus-use (33%) among LHON affected individuals, raising concerns about lifestyle factors.
One-fourth of LHON affected individuals had harmful or hazardous alcohol consumption risk classification, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Interpretation:
The HRQoL was similar among the Swedish LHON cohort compared to healthy controls, but there was a higher prevalence of smoking, snus usage, and hazardous alcohol consumption among LHON affected individuals, which has public health implications.
Limitations:
Small sample size may limit generalizability and the ability to detect subtle differences.
Self-reported data may introduce bias, and potential confounding factors should be considered.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the need for awareness of tobacco and alcohol consumption among LHON affected individuals and suggests further research into interventions.
