Changes in the quality of life following surgery for hyperhidrosis

Abstract

Hyperhidrosis is characterized by diaphoresis that is unrelated to the physiological thermo-regulatory requirements of the body. Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by an idiopathic overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and can affect the axillae, in more than half of the cases, palms, soles and face. As a result, patients may develop psychologic disorders, such as anxiety and depression, or experience impaired quality of life (QOL). Set of indicators were therefore introduced to describe the relationship between QOL post-surgery for hyperhidrosis and daily life. Recently a World Health Organization study group developed a questionnaire made of 100 question ranging from physical, psychological, environmental and spiritual aspects (WHOQOL0-100); this has been followed by a shorter one (WHOQOL BREF) easier to be completed maintaining the same standard of psychometric assessment. This is made of 26 questions covering the same aspects as the WHOQOL-100 representing however a generic tool to assess QOL. Nevertheless there are other QOL indicators that have to be considered when assessing the impact of primary hyperhidrosis (PH) and postoperative status following surgery for PH. © Shanghai Chest. All rights reserved.