Kontakt X:X | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.043

Predictors of quality of life after peroral endoscopic myotomy treatmentNursing - Original article

Alena Várady ORCID...1, 2, *, Ivana Bóriková ORCID...1
1 Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Nursing, Martin, Slovak Republic
2 University Hospital Martin, Clinic of Gastroenterological Internal Medicine, Martin, Slovak Republic

Introduction: Esophageal achalasia is a chronic motility disorder that impairs quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in QoL after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and to identify selected socio-demographic and clinical predictors.

Methods: A prospective observational study included 50 patients aged 19-84 years. QoL was assessed using the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders-Quality of Life (PAGI-QOL) before and three months after POEM. Changes and predictors of improvement were analyzed using non-parametric tests and generalized linear mixed models.

Results: Total QoL and all domains improved significantly. The greatest changes were observed in Diet and Food Habits (r = -0.813, p < 0.001), Daily Activities (r = -0.726, p < 0.001), and Psychological Well-being and Distress (r = -0.720, p < 0.001). The total PAGI-QOL score increased significantly from 3.4 to 4.5 (r = -0.799, p < 0.001). Previous treatment predicted lower improvement in the Diet and Food Habits domain (β = -1.33, p = 0.005), as well as in total QoL (β = -0.668, p = 0.046). Higher age was associated with smaller improvement in the Relationship domain (β = -0.02, p = 0.013). The PAGI-QOL demonstrated excellent reliability for the total score (α = 0.946; ω = 0.95).

Conclusion: QoL improved after POEM. Routine QoL assessment should be integrated into achalasia care, particularly in older patients and those with prior treatment.

Keywords: Achalasia; Nursing care; PAGI-QOL; Peroral endoscopic myotomy; Quality of life
Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: March 12, 2026; Revised: June 12, 2026; Accepted: July 6, 2026; Prepublished online: July 13, 2026 

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