Quality of Life in Tetany Syndrome: The Role of Symptomatology, Attack Frequency, and Panic Disorder Comorbidity

Abstract

This study investigates the quality of life among individuals with tetany syndrome focusing on symptomatology of tetany syndrome, frequency of tetany attacks and comorbidity of panic disorder. The research utilised the WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life questionnaire together with additional questions addressing socio-demographic data and respondents' health status. The research sample consisted of 427 respondents, of whom 158 were diagnosed with tetany syndrome. The results demonstrated that respondents with tetany syndrome scored significantly lower across the various domains of quality of life. The presence of specific symptoms showed the strongest correlations between poor concentration, weakness, fatigue, malaise, and feelings of anxiety or anxiety attacks, migraine and dull or sharp headaches and overall quality of life, physical health, psychological and environment domain. Conversely, the weakest correlations were observed in the domain of social relationships. The frequency of tetany attacks indicated that respondents who experienced a higher frequency of attacks scored lower in overall quality of life as well as in the environment and social relationships domains. Individuals with tetany syndrome who also had panic disorder scored significantly lower in overall quality of life and in the environmental domain as in comparison to those without panic disorder.