Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -)
Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) 2/2011

01-06-2011 | Original Article

What has happened to people affected by thalidomide 50 years on?

Authors: A. O’Carroll, F. O’Reilly, D. L. Whitford

Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) | Issue 2/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction

There have been reports of thalidomide-affected people suffering a deterioration in their disability over time [1, 2]. This study assessed changes in disabilities among thalidomide-affected people in the Irish population.

Methods

A questionnaire, assessing musculo-skeletal health, quality-of-life, general health and illness intrusiveness was sent to 26 people affected by thalidomide in the Republic of Ireland.

Results

Seventeen (65%) responded. Six (35%) respondents were not working as a result of their disability. Eleven (65%) reported a worsening of their disability over time, with nine of them reporting the deterioration as moderate to severe. The impact of this decline was measured by respondents in terms of ability to perform daily tasks, emotional health and finances (due to extra costs related to clothing, transport, housing alterations and heating).

Conclusion

There is a need to continually review the physical, psychological and social needs of thalidomide survivors in order to ensure optimum care is made available.
Literature
1.
2.
Nippert I, Edler B, Schmidt-Herterich C (2002) 40 years later: the health related quality of life of women affected by thalidomide. Community Genet 5:209–216PubMedCrossRef
3.
March LM, Bagga H (2004) Epidemiology of osteoarthritis in Australia. Med J Aust 180(Suppl 5):S6–S10PubMed
4.
Devins GM, Binik YM, Hutchinson TA et al (1983) The emotional impact of end-stage renal disease: importance of patients’ perceptions of intrusiveness and control. Int J Psychiatry Med 13:327–343PubMedCrossRef
5.
Devins GM (1994) Illness intrusiveness and the psychosocial impact of lifestyle disruptions in chronic life-threatening disease. Adv Ren Replace Ther 1:251–263PubMed
6.
Van Brakel WH, Reed NK, Red DS (1999) Grading impairment in leprosy. Int J Lepr 68:106
7.
Devins GM, Edworthy SM, Seland TP et al (1993) Differences in illness intrusiveness across rheumatoid arthritis, end-stage renal disease, and multiple sclerosis. J Nerv Ment Dis 181:377–381PubMedCrossRef
8.
Devins GM, Armstrong SJ, Mandin H et al (1990) Recurrent pain, illness intrusiveness, and quality of life in end-stage renal disease. Pain 42:279–285PubMedCrossRef
9.
Devins GM, Mandin H, Hons RB et al (1990) Illness intrusiveness and quality of life in end-stage renal disease: Comparison and stability across treatment modalities. Health Psychol 9:117–142PubMedCrossRef
10.
Devins GM, Edworthy SM, Guthrie NG et al (1992) Illness intrusiveness in rheumatoid arthritis: differential impact on depressive symptoms over the adult lifespan. J Rheumatol 19:709–715PubMed
11.
Stanford/Garfield Kaiser Chronic Disease Dissemination Study. Results reported in: Lorig KR, Sobel, DS, Ritter PL et al. (2001) Effect of a self-management program for patients with chronic disease. Eff Clin Pract 4:256–262
12.
Devins GM, Flanagan M, Morehouse R et al (1995) Differential illness intrusiveness associated with sleep promoting medications. Eur Psychiatry 10(Suppl. 3):153s–159sPubMedCrossRef
13.
Devins GM, Styra R, O’Connor P, Gray et al (1996) Psychosocial impact of illness intrusiveness moderated by age in multiple sclerosis. Psychol Health Med 1:179–191CrossRef
14.
Antony MM, Roth D, Swinson RP et al (1998) Illness intrusiveness in individuals with panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or social phobia. J Nerv Ment Dis 186(5):311–315PubMedCrossRef
15.
Robb JC, Cooke RG, Devins GM et al (1997) Quality of life and lifestyle disruption in bipolar disorder. J Psychiatr Res 31:509–517PubMedCrossRef
16.
Newman RJ (1999) Shoulder joint replacement for osteoarthrosis in association with thalidomide-induced phocomelia. Clin Rehabil 13:250PubMedCrossRef
17.
Steven MM (1992) Prevalence of chronic arthritis in four geographical areas of the Scottish Highlands. Ann Rheum Dis 51:186–194PubMedCrossRef
18.
Jamoom EW, Horner-Johnson W, Suzuki R et al, RRTC Expert Group on Health Status Measurement (2008) Age at disability onset and self-reported health status. BMC Public Health 8:10
Metadata
Title
What has happened to people affected by thalidomide 50 years on?
Authors
A. O’Carroll
F. O’Reilly
D. L. Whitford
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 0021-1265
Electronic ISSN: 1863-4362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-011-0683-7

Other articles of this Issue 2/2011

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) 2/2011 Go to the issue

Letter to the Editor

Regional variations in testicular cancer rates in Ireland: clusters and communities

Case Report

A rare pathological trinity: an appendiceal ectopic pregnancy, acute appendicitis and a carcinoid tumour

Letter to the Editor

Valve failure in an injection port

Review Article

Disease-modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis: a review of expenditure in Ireland

Original Article

Vitamin B12 status, homocysteine and mortality amongst community-dwelling Irish elders

Original Article

Motility of the ureter of the spontaneously hypertensive rat
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits