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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Laura Jopson, Professor David Jones
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
© 2021 The AuthorsBackground & aims: Several symptoms impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). They are reported to vary significantly in different countries. Aim of our study was to explore whether there is a geographical clustering that accounts for symptoms in PBC. Methods: Data was analysed from four cohorts of PBC patients from the UK, Spain, Japan and Italy using the PBC-27 scale. Results: Overall, 569 patients from four cohorts were identified, including 515 females (90.5%) with a mean age of 61 years. The analysis provided evidence for strict factorial invariance of the scale, a robust indicator of its validity for cross-cultural research. The mean of the fatigue domain of British patients was significantly greater than that of the Japanese (p < 0.05), Italian (p < 0.05), and Spanish patients (p < 0.001). The mean of the cognitive domain after 54 years of age, was significantly greater in the British patients than in the Japanese (p < 0.05) and Spanish patients (p < 0.01). However, after 69 years of age, there were not significant differences between countries. The mean of the emotion domain after 54 years of age, was greater in the British that in the Spanish (p < 0.01) and Italian patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Differences in the four countries concerning fatigue, cognitive and emotional dysfunction were found. The association of latitude and symptoms might provide new insights into the role of sun exposure, genetics and/or cultural component into disease phenotype in PBC.
Author(s): Montali L, Gragnano A, Miglioretti M, Frigerio A, Vecchio L, Gerussi A, Cristoferi L, Ronca V, D'Amato D, O'Donnell SE, Mancuso C, Luca M, Yagi M, Reig A, Jopson L, Pilar S, Jones D, Pares A, Mells G, Tanaka A, Carbone M, Invernizzi P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Translational Autoimmunity
Year: 2021
Volume: 4
Online publication date: 06/01/2021
Acceptance date: 30/12/2020
Date deposited: 25/03/2021
ISSN (electronic): 2589-9090
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100081
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100081
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